Hen w/chicks...low temps!

[Domestic_goddess]

My broody hatched her first chick today, the temps are going to be in the 20's tonight, should I be worried?

 

[MetalSmitten]

as long as she's caring for them, they'll be fine.

they'll run under her when they get cold. i had a hen last year decide that november was the perfect time to go broody. six happy healthy chickies survived just fine

 

[ScissorChick]

She will keep her baby warm.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

I've got new parent nerves, this is my first broody hatch. I would feel so much better if they were in the house where I could keep an eye on them

 

[ScissorChick]

relax! If she's a good mommy, she will take care of her chick.

 

[jvls1942]

leave them be.. if the chicks are under the hen, they are fine..
If you start to interfere, you might just confuse the hen..

The chicks do not spend all their time under the hen, either..

Just watch them during the daytime.. the chicks will run after the hen even when the temp is 40F.. very once in awhile she will squat and the chicks will crawl under her and warm up.. and then off they will go again...

 

[Shiloh Acres]

Yep, two years ago I had a broody hatch out chicks in January, not in the coop. The silly thing then proceeded to set up housekeeping in the middle of the open yard. I topped her off with a cage-top to give her chicks access to food without having to compete with 100 other chickens, and on wet days put a tarp over that. All were fine. Mama makes a GREAT brooder.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

Thanks everyone for you advice, I left the chick with Momma and it did great!

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
good move,,

my geese were born on Christmas day.. their mother took them out into foot deep snow right away.. I don't know if it hurt them, but they in turn layed their eggs on Thanksgiving the next year and the eggs hatched on Christmas day, 2010.. Talk about your Christmas goose !!! LOL