Help! I need advice about hatching chick with a broody hen!

[Shandina]

Last year my two silkies went broody for the first time, they did great. They stayed in the coop I didn't move them but once the chicks hatched they I am assuming got trampled on by other chickens. So with my second broody silkie I moved her into a dog cage with food water and starter chick food, she only had one chick and the chick lived for 3 days than I went out and the chick was dead. Again I don't know if mom killed it on purpose or if it got trampled on by mom but it was locked in with mom alone. So every chick I had hatch died. Since than one of my silkies died and one other ed older hen I had died So I am down to 5 chickens, two silkies one is a rooster, and 3 red hens. I really like to let them hatch some this spring but I don't know how to prevent them all from dying again. Maybe the cage was too small or mamma hen? its a medium size dog crate. hat do you guys do? I have no space in my house to do the heat lamp method so I really like mamma hen to do the work. Help please!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Go with nature. A broody hen doesn't naturally lock herself into a tiny cage.
You can let her brood in the coop with the other birds but the best thing is to give her her own space but it has to be large enough for her to stretch, defecate, eat, drink, dust bathe, etc. once a day. I'd say at least 9 sq. ft. of floor space with the nest box.

 

[chickens really]

Provide feed and water close to the Hen once the Chicks hatch.

 

[CaramelKittey]

Last year my two silkies went broody for the first time, they did great. They stayed in the coop I didn't move them but once the chicks hatched they I am assuming got trampled on by other chickens. So with my second broody silkie I moved her into a dog cage with food water and starter chick food, she only had one chick and the chick lived for 3 days than I went out and the chick was dead. Again I don't know if mom killed it on purpose or if it got trampled on by mom but it was locked in with mom alone. So every chick I had hatch died. Since than one of my silkies died and one other ed older hen I had died So I am down to 5 chickens, two silkies one is a rooster, and 3 red hens. I really like to let them hatch some this spring but I don't know how to prevent them all from dying again. Maybe the cage was too small or mamma hen? its a medium size dog crate. hat do you guys do? I have no space in my house to do the heat lamp method so I really like mamma hen to do the work. Help please!!

So sorry for the loss of your chicks and hens.

I would normally advise taking the chicks from the moms the moment they hatch and raising them inside however, since you have no space for a heat lamp, that method would not work. I have seen other chickens be rougher with other hens chicks however, I have never heard of a mom killing a chick. The chick could have died from the cold if the silkie was not caring for it. Where did you find the chick when it passed away?

 

[Acre4Me]

Sorry for your loss of the chicks! But hoping you’ll have success this year.

The momma could have killed the chicks, or another chicken could have. Were the momma hens being good mommas (clucking to the chicks, keeping them warm, defending them if needed)?

We had a broody, but she was only 8 months old, and didn’t want her to hatch her own (or flock’s) eggs. After she was broody for about 3 weeks, we put her in a 6’x3’ brooder box with a nest. We bought chicks and put them under her in the dark, middle of the night. She accepted them, and did a good job mothering them. She was separated from the flock for a few days at first, then in a portioned off area of the run for about 2 weeks. Integration worked out well.

So, next time you get a broody, I hope it goes better for you, and the chicks survive.

 

[Shandina]

So sorry for the loss of your chicks and hens.

I would normally advise taking the chicks from the moms the moment they hatch and raising them inside however, since you have no space for a heat lamp, that method would not work. I have seen other chickens be rougher with other hens chicks however, I have never heard of a mom killing a chick. The chick could have died from the cold if the silkie was not caring for it. Where did you find the chick when it passed away?

right in front of mom, in the cage just laying on the bedding. So it didn't drown in the water dish it was very shallow anyways because I know they can in a deeper dish, It was weird the chick was under mom in the dog cage fine for three days if he came out he go right back under her again and then I went in later on that day and he was dead laying in front of mom so I was thinking maybe she slipped and landed on him or something? non of the other chickens could get to it so I know it was them, so something happened either it died on it's own or mom accidentally killed it.

 

[Shandina]

Sorry for your loss of the chicks! But hoping you’ll have success this year.

The momma could have killed the chicks, or another chicken could have. Were the momma hens being good mommas (clucking to the chicks, keeping them warm, defending them if needed)?

We had a broody, but she was only 8 months old, and didn’t want her to hatch her own (or flock’s) eggs. After she was broody for about 3 weeks, we put her in a 6’x3’ brooder box with a nest. We bought chicks and put them under her in the dark, middle of the night. She accepted them, and did a good job mothering them. She was separated from the flock for a few days at first, then in a portioned off area of the run for about 2 weeks. Integration worked out well.

So, next time you get a broody, I hope it goes better for you, and the chicks survive.

She did good sat on the eggs only got up here and there to get food a drink and go outside for a few mins, but I did notice she isn't very protective. I could easily touch her chicks or eggs if i wanted too and she wouldn't keep the other chickens away from her chicks. But shes the one Put put her and her chick in the cage together and found it dead. The other silkie I had that died she was awesome did everything and tried to protect her chicks but unfortunately I think because i had eggs hatching a few days apart under her she wouldn't leave her eggs or protect the chicks that got away on her and they got killed by the other chickens i have. It was both of their first times going broody and hatching, so I am hoping maybe this year my only silkie I have left stands up for her chicks more this time around.

 

[Shandina]

Go with nature. A broody hen doesn't naturally lock herself into a tiny cage.
You can let her brood in the coop with the other birds but the best thing is to give her her own space but it has to be large enough for her to stretch, defecate, eat, drink, dust bathe, etc. once a day. I'd say at least 9 sq. ft. of floor space with the nest box.

I was thinking of making a second small coop/broader for my silkie to go into once her eggs hatch beside the big coop so the chicks cant get close to the other chickens and get stepped on, but it's just chicken wire between them so they still get to know each other and can transition easier hopefully going into the big chickens coop. that way mamma and her chicks have a lot more room, but are safer. Do you think that is a better idea than the dog crate, because it isn't that big.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Bigger is always better.

(concerning this topic)