I have a hen that went broody in January in Missouri. We are having very cold spells this winter.
I brought the hen into my garage to our large brooder and she hatched 1 egg. I wanted to add a couple of chickens to the flock this year, so I put 6 eggs in the incubator. 1 of these eggs just hatched.
Momma is being very protective of her 4.5 week old baby. I tried adding the new chick, but momma won't accept it. She is still protective of her baby. I really don't want to separate them, but want to add this new chick to the larger brooder. The 4 week old can't go outside yet. We have a cat that will kill it at this age and it is still pretty cold.
The chick is still very attached to the momma yet. Momma is laying an egg every day now. I have turkey poults coming in 2.5 weeks. I wanted to have a couple of chicks to help with the poults, but thought the chicks should have a head start. Momma got ahead of the game when she went broody in Jan.
We had a couple of warm days and I took mom and chick outside for a little while, but we are having very cold nights. One more week of cold weather ahead. I can keep the new chick in the small brooder for about a week, but it is kind of lonely.
To complicate the situation, we will be away for a week in 2 weeks, now we might even have to go out of town for a couple of days due to my father in law being in the hospital and not looking very good. I am thinking of staying home, and letting my husband go alone.
Option 1- should I give them a week, then kick the mom out and add the new chick with the 4 week old one?
Option 2 - wait a week and put mom and chick out and raise the new chick by itself.
Option 3- other ideas.
I brought the hen into my garage to our large brooder and she hatched 1 egg. I wanted to add a couple of chickens to the flock this year, so I put 6 eggs in the incubator. 1 of these eggs just hatched.
Momma is being very protective of her 4.5 week old baby. I tried adding the new chick, but momma won't accept it. She is still protective of her baby. I really don't want to separate them, but want to add this new chick to the larger brooder. The 4 week old can't go outside yet. We have a cat that will kill it at this age and it is still pretty cold.
The chick is still very attached to the momma yet. Momma is laying an egg every day now. I have turkey poults coming in 2.5 weeks. I wanted to have a couple of chicks to help with the poults, but thought the chicks should have a head start. Momma got ahead of the game when she went broody in Jan.
We had a couple of warm days and I took mom and chick outside for a little while, but we are having very cold nights. One more week of cold weather ahead. I can keep the new chick in the small brooder for about a week, but it is kind of lonely.
To complicate the situation, we will be away for a week in 2 weeks, now we might even have to go out of town for a couple of days due to my father in law being in the hospital and not looking very good. I am thinking of staying home, and letting my husband go alone.
Option 1- should I give them a week, then kick the mom out and add the new chick with the 4 week old one?
Option 2 - wait a week and put mom and chick out and raise the new chick by itself.
Option 3- other ideas.
