HELP! Mommy hen killed, left babies

[krzybo]

I will get a duster. That is a great idea. I'm now trying to get the heat lamp regulated to the right temperature. One little chick is a "go getter". The container we have them in is 27 inches high and this little lady can get out of it. We now have screen over the top of it.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I find the chicks are a better temperature indicator than a thermometer. I know the ideal is to start at something like 85-90 degrees & drop it down 5 degrees each week, and I don't want to steer you wrong. But I stick a desk lamp in one end of the brooder box & watch what the chicks do. If they huddle shivering right under the light I figure it's too cool, if they avoid the lighted area entire it must be too warm. If they act happy & busy, moving about the box on their tiny birdy business it must be just right. I rarely keep a thermometer in the brooder box, the chicks just poop all over it.

 

[krzybo]

Thanks, that sounds reasonable to me. When the temperature was 95 they were moving about. When I got it back to 87 they huddled under the light. There is room for the babies to move around and get out from under the light if it gets to warm. They aren't frantically looking for mamma any more. I hope that means they are a little bit happier. We really hate what we let happen.

The only way I know how to make it up to them is to make them as comfortable as possible and for that I appreciate all you chicken lovers input and help with us new chicken lovers.

 

[krzybo]

UPDATE! Babies are doing great. Thanks for all your help.

 

[Quella]

So sorry for your loss of your hen...