- Apr 27, 2017
- 47
- 22
- 104
My Welsummer adopted 5 chicks for us last year and did such an amazing job that I kicked myself for not doing it this way before! She went broody on me two weeks ago and I brought home some chicks last night. We snuck them in at night, tucking them under and they all (TEN) settled in for the night. This morning we opened the crate so she could step out for some food and water. The chicks were in the back and she was not sitting on them. We pushed her back in and she pecked at them lightly (like she would to get them to go under her) but it was to push them AWAY. Gently.....but still away. We opened the crate again because she seemed a bit anxious and she took off and went right back to her nesting box across the yard. I'd call that a fail.
We thought about trying with her again tonight because she was such a good mom and still broody, but we had a Partridge Rock that was also broody. She's only a year old and we didn't know her temperament with chicks yet, but decided to give it a try. I read one post on how someone stuck babies in during the day and figured we'd give that a try. I wanted to be able to monitor them for a day and I would not be able to do that tomorrow if we waited until tonight. ANYWAY, we did 3 at a time over an hour and she took them right in. Our brooder pen is right next to our chicken run. So, Momma and babies are doing well scratching and eating and snuggling, but my Welsummer got off of her "nest" and is sitting nearby across the fence talking to the babies. She gets puffed up when others come by and acts likes she's protecting them. She's been "tending" to them all day and gets upset if you move her away like they are hers.
Did she bond with them last night enough to not harm them? I'd rather keep the momma and babies separate for a while but she really seems to think they are hers. Would the mommas share the babies?? These two hens were broody together and sat in the same box. I don't want to upset the new momma but my Welsummer is clearly upset. Will she get over it?! (I can't really move anyone further away. The pens are permanent)
We thought about trying with her again tonight because she was such a good mom and still broody, but we had a Partridge Rock that was also broody. She's only a year old and we didn't know her temperament with chicks yet, but decided to give it a try. I read one post on how someone stuck babies in during the day and figured we'd give that a try. I wanted to be able to monitor them for a day and I would not be able to do that tomorrow if we waited until tonight. ANYWAY, we did 3 at a time over an hour and she took them right in. Our brooder pen is right next to our chicken run. So, Momma and babies are doing well scratching and eating and snuggling, but my Welsummer got off of her "nest" and is sitting nearby across the fence talking to the babies. She gets puffed up when others come by and acts likes she's protecting them. She's been "tending" to them all day and gets upset if you move her away like they are hers.
Did she bond with them last night enough to not harm them? I'd rather keep the momma and babies separate for a while but she really seems to think they are hers. Would the mommas share the babies?? These two hens were broody together and sat in the same box. I don't want to upset the new momma but my Welsummer is clearly upset. Will she get over it?! (I can't really move anyone further away. The pens are permanent)
