Hen taking care of her babies

[Newfarmer36]

I don't get offended... I do think of my chickens as pets, ie Feathered friends. I love them sooo much!

Mine are pets too. Lol. Eggs are just a bonus!

 

[bobbi-j]

Well dang!! I've wanted these for SOOO long!!! I don't want them to be sick! I don't quarantine any of my new birds. I know many people say I should but I don't. I don't keep them separate or anything til they get used to one another. My birds are extremely laid back and ive never had a problem with adding new birds automatically.

I'm not saying for sure she's sick, but I'd look her over real good when you get her. Quarantine is a personal preference. Not everyone does it, and some who think they are doing it, really aren't. If you can't do it right, there's really no point in my opinion. I hope she's just that dedicated of a broody.

 

[Newfarmer36]

I'm not saying for sure she's sick, but I'd look her over real good when you get her. Quarantine is a personal preference. Not everyone does it, and some who think they are doing it, really aren't. If you can't do it right, there's really no point in my opinion. I hope she's just that dedicated of a broody.

Me too!! I work and don't have the time to give chicks 24 hour care.(I'm trying to be responsible). Hens also know when a chick isn't developing right and they know to kick the egg out of the nest. Humans, or at least the people I know, will try and save a chick that's hurt or whatever and it's not always in the chicks best interest. I may be wrong. It's just my opinion. That's why I don't incubate eggs. I'm very soft hearted and I know I'd try everything to keep a chick alive no matter what.

 

[bobbi-j]

Me too!! I work and don't have the time to give chicks 24 hour care.(I'm trying to be responsible). Hens also know when a chick isn't developing right and they know to kick the egg out of the nest. Humans, or at least the people I know, will try and save a chick that's hurt or whatever and it's not always in the chicks best interest. I may be wrong. It's just my opinion. That's why I don't incubate eggs. I'm very soft hearted and I know I'd try everything to keep a chick alive no matter what.

I work, but am raising 30 chicks right now. They don't need you there 24/7. I make sure they have fresh food and water daily, and are protected from the elements and predators. I peek in on them every afternoon when I get home. Just throwing that out there in case your broody isn't a good mama and abandons her babies after a few days.

 

[Newfarmer36]

I work, but am raising 30 chicks right now. They don't need you there 24/7. I make sure they have fresh food and water daily, and are protected from the elements and predators. I peek in on them every afternoon when I get home. Just throwing that out there in case your broody isn't a good mama and abandons her babies after a few days.

I thought you had to be with them at all times. Like infants.

I'm a crazy person. Lol when my dogs and cat were puppies and a kitten, it was always during the summer when I'm off for the school year. I made sure I was home so they wouldn't get scared, lonely, needed feeding and drinking, taking them outside for a potty break, etc...

 

[bobbi-j]

I thought you had to be with them at all times. Like infants.

I'm a crazy person. Lol when my dogs and cat were puppies and a kitten, it was always during the summer when I'm off for the school year. I made sure I was home so they wouldn't get scared, lonely, needed feeding and drinking, taking them outside for a potty break, etc...

Chickens aren't quite like dogs and cats. Unless you're bringing food, they couldn't care less if you're there or not. At least mine don't. They come running, don't see a bucket, and find something else to do. Mine have been in the coop since I got them at 3 days old. I check on them once a day - usually I sit on a bucket and observe them for a while - make sure they have food and water and that's about it.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I'm buying a hen that's broody.... I want... a hen that will hatch out eggs. The lady that I'm buying her from said that with most hens, they'll take care of the chicks for just a couple of days and then just leave them. Then I'll need to be the one to take care of them. Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks

Run, don't walk away from this "deal" the "lady" (?) that told you that knows zilch about hens and chickens.

Hens go into setting mode in response to hormones, somewhat like the reason that roosters become aggressive. Once the hormones wear off so will the hens "broodiness" This could leave you with 15 or more eggs only a few days from hatching and result in an entire clutch of dead chicks from no fault of the hen's. Hens are not machines like so many here seem to believe. But they are living breathing birds that are programmed a certain way and they never use humans faulty logic or Pollyanna thinking to conduct chicken business and neither should you or I.

 

[Hensndoes]

Is it possible there was a miss understanding and she was telling you the broody would keep her chicks in the nest for a few days then bring them out? That would sound about right. But she won't leave them - she will show them how to be a chicken and sleep with them for weeks.

 

[aart]

This makes me a little leery. Are you sure she's broody and not sick?

The whole situation makes me leery.

Run, don't walk away from this "deal" the "lady" (?) that told you that knows zilch about hens and chickens.

My first thought also.

Is it possible there was a miss understanding and she was telling you the broody would keep her chicks in the nest for a few days then bring them out? That would sound about right. But she won't leave them - she will show them how to be a chicken and sleep with them for weeks.

Very good point.

 

[Newfarmer36]

Chickens aren't quite like dogs and cats. Unless you're bringing food, they couldn't care less if you're there or not. At least mine don't. They come running, don't see a bucket, and find something else to do. Mine have been in the coop since I got them at 3 days old. I check on them once a day - usually I sit on a bucket and observe them for a while - make sure they have food and water and that's about it.

Lol. When I get home from work at around 2:15, I let my dogs out and sit outside with my birds for a couple of ours. I go in to cook supper and make sure everyone has what they need and go right back outside. On the weekends, I spend 80% of my time outside.