Help! Mama Hen has had just 1 egg hatch!

[alexaschicks]

Broody mama wouldn’t break so we got her a gift of 4 (apparently) fertilized eggs. We wanted to be all natural and let her do her thing so we never candled- she has been so devoted to sitting and keeping these eggs safe. We had to lift her off the nest daily as she wasn’t caring for herself- we let her sit day 18 on. Today is the end of day 22 and only one chick hatched (morning of day 21.) She is delighted and mothering the baby, but still diligent to sit on her last 3 eggs. My questions are:
1. Do I run out a grab her another baby so the chick doesn’t have to be alone? I can’t imagine when mama abandons the chick having a flock animal be solo until it can join the flock. Seems cruel.
2. Her health is deteriorating in almost 100 degree weather daily- when do I take the eggs from her and tell her to get on with living and foraging with her baby? I’m concerned for her health but I read on here people sometimes give 2-3 days after day 21.
I feel like time is precious now- not just for her health, but also if I am to sneak another baby under her. Any advice welcomed!
Thank you!

 

[SueT]

I have a broody w just one chick, now 3 weeks old and it has been fine. Mama dotes on it and gives the chick all it needs, it never cries.
Mama had 2 eggs, the other was candled and found not alive. Even after we removed it, she stayed on the nest 2 days and 2 nights after the chick hatched. I put food and water close so chick could eat and drink.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Can you candle the other 3 eggs and see if they are good or not? Hens are fine with one chick, it's just that if you take it away and put it in a brooder it would need a friend. I'd let the hen have her 1 chick and not introduce diseases other chicks could bring.

I agree with candling, but a day old chick from an NPIP certified facility would probably be fine. I had a broody hatch one chick, and that chick had a rough go of it. I will never have a broody raise a single chick ever again.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Sorry so late to this conversation, but am curious. Do you have to physically get Mama and baby to their own area every night or do they go voluntarily?

They have always gone voluntarily. My current mama w/babies has shown a lit of hesitation about mingling with the flock. She stays in her area exclusively and hasn't brought the chicks out yet (even though the door is open every morning). She'll bring them out when she's ready, and she'll take them to the big coop when she's ready, too. At least, that's been my experience.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Can you candle the other 3 eggs and see if they are good or not? Hens are fine with one chick, it's just that if you take it away and put it in a brooder it would need a friend. I'd let the hen have her 1 chick and not introduce diseases other chicks could bring.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

If the eggs aren't good take them out of the nest. Then put the hen and baby out of the nest onto the floor together. When she sees there are no more eggs she won't return to sitting and will take care of her chick instead.

 

[Lollychicken]

Bit off topic (sorry). Is she a corrination Sussex??? She is beautiful!!

I'd give her another day with the eggs, but would also candle them to make sure. You can put other chicks in there, I would do it at night and just put the chick under the hen (she won't notice/care as much) or if you don't want to do that put the other chick near the hen and other chick. She will peck at it if she doesn't want it, or will leave it and raise it as one of her own. I personally haven't have a broody kill chicks that weren't hers, but it does happen

 

[Aunt Angus]

Bit off topic (sorry). Is she a corrination Sussex??? She is beautiful!!

I'd give her another day with the eggs, but would also candle them to make sure. You can put other chicks in there, I would do it at night and just put the chick under the hen (she won't notice/care as much) or if you don't want to do that put the other chick near the hen and other chick. She will peck at it if she doesn't want it, or will leave it and raise it as one of her own. I personally haven't have a broody kill chicks that weren't hers, but it does happen

Yes! At night, for sure. Pitch black darkness.

I have had to try a couple of times for a broody to take a day old chick. If it doesn't work right away, you can try again later that same night or even the next night.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I let mine out to forage with the larger flock starting once mama was out of the nest. Mama keeps everyone away. She'll handle the integration. At night, the two went back into the nest (my brooding area a separate area of the coop).

 

[SueT]

Update on my hen with a solo chick—-mama integrated it into the flock at 3 weeks, (they had their separate area, I opened the gates) and it was seamless. Everyone accepted the new flock member. Then at 4 weeks, she abruptly weaned it. Turned out to be a cockerel, he’s 2 months+. old now.
How is yours going, any updates? Did you get more chicks?