I had 2 hens (one is a silkie and the other is a Jersey Giant) being broody and I got tired of trying to break them so I let them have their eggs. Well, lo and behold, the odd couple has 2 chicks out there today (with 4 more eggs to go)! Yeah girls !!! Now my question, what do I do? Do I need to put out chick food and water? Or will they be ok if I don't? I'm such a Type A control freak personality that I don't know if I can handle this. Give me some advise and words of encouragement, please.
Take the layer feed out of the coop if you use it, or get it up high enough that the chicks can't get at it. The mamas will do just fine on chick feed, but the layer feed will harm the chicks. And that's about it! The mamas should do just fine taking care of the chicks on their own, protecting them from any chicken who might want to bother them, seeing that they eat and drink, seeing that they are warm enough, etc. Of course they need chick feed and water that they can reach. I often have a mixed age flock so I feed everyone grower or flock raiser, and never buy layer feed. I've never seen the chicks (or roosters) pay any attention to the oyster shell.
yes chick starter and water. The mommas will teach them to eat. And it wont hurt the mommas to eat chick starter for awhile.
I gave mine some chick starter in place of the regular feed. Mom ate it too, but that is okay. If there are other chickens in the same area, you may want to watch to make sure the hens keep the others from harming the chicks, oh and make sure the little ones can reach the water but not fall in! Last but not least, make sure they can follow the hens into the nest box on their own so they can sleep all cozy. Have fun watching!
