hen not being a good mom? help please

[birdbrain5]

i had my little bantam hen hatch out 3 chicks, she still has 3 eggs under her but im thinking they wont be hatching. i didnt have a real good set up for her, she decided to go broody in a bucket nest (tipped on its side) so i put eggs under her to see if she would continue to sit. i went in the stall this morning and looked and saw a little chick outside the bucket peeping, i picked it up and it was chilly so i put it back in the bucket with mom. i figure it couldnt get back in because of the lip on the bucket that i have keeping the bedding in there. i took the lip off incase it happens again but ill be watching closely. mom came out to eat quick as soon as i put the chick food down and left the babies and that one was sitting there cold and peeping. i coaxed her back in and she huddled the other two under her wings and the other chick just stayed there shivering. i finally put the chick under her wing because i dont know if it was just so cold it didnt know to go under her or what. will i have to take this chick away from her? should i have a lamp in there outside the bucket? i dont want to cook mama tho.. ive never had a hen hatch chicks so i dont know if shes a bad mama or what to do to make sure none freeze to death. the chick looked healthy and seemed fine other than being cold so i dont think she tossed him from the nest..

sorry so wordy, just wanted to be thorough!!

i moved this to the raising chicks section..

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

How is your broody and her clutch doing?


Sometimes it takes the broody a couple days to "snap outta" the broodness she has been in and take care of the chicks. I would monitor her and offer food/water right next to her on the nest. She should start eating/drinking without leaving the nest and calling the babies to eat/drink.

 

[CaliBlueChicken]

What I have done before is put a towel over the opening of the nest so that it encourages her to stay and hatch the rest. I found that my hens get excited when they hatch and want to go and show them the world and forget about the other eggs and newly wet hatched chicks. Also then if the momma does get up for a while the towel keeps out the drafts. I also check on them often. Good luck

and enjoy!

 

[CaliBlueChicken]

Quote:
Yes this is a great post... keep the food and water close so the momma doesn't have to move

 

[birdbrain5]

they are doing good! i candled the last three they were not fertile, i grabbed them from one of my pullets who i had seperated from my roo a week or so before. so i have 3 little cute cochin babies and shes being a good mom now! thanks everyone

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Watching a Broody and her clutch is incredible