How many chicks can a banty hen cover?

[JaneandLizzy]

Pretty picture. Looks like it was July. Did warm weather help her keep them warm?

 

[JaneandLizzy]

Update:

We brought in two broody Japs and put half under each in separate boxes, late in the night. My dd slept near them to ,hopefully, be there to help if there was a problem.

Sure enough, one hen made happy momma noises and the other something different... a bit disturbed? At dawn, the latter hen left her box and her chicks.

So dd put them all under happy momma. At one week old, they all fit. A lamp may be needed by next week, but we feel it was worth it. She is a much safer mother than the bigger one.

They all were completely under her last night. Three or four chicks at a time on her back most of the day.

Tonight, they were all asleep, some with their heads poking out over the top of her wing like they were tucked into a bed. Didn't want to scare them by taking a photo, but wish I had one.

 

[pepperluvsmee]

Here ya go--teeeeeeeny tiny hen with 9 babies. She was a good ma ma hen.

 

[happyhens]

Aww all these broody mamas and their chicks are so cute! Why don't you all enter your pictures in the broody hen show in the online chicken show forum?
I'm absolutely dying for a broody hen, but my Buff Orps aren't cooperating right now

Oh well, I have silkies, bantam cochins and OEGB chicks coming in a couple more weeks (actually, 16 days...)
Glad to hear that everything is working out with your chicks, JaneandLizzy. I had a game hen of some sort, that was roughly the same size as a Jap hen, maybe a little bigger, that easily could raise a dozen chicks. But that was during warmer weather.

 

[JaneandLizzy]

My avatar is a picture of her out with the chicks today. It got warm and sunny, and by the time I had gotten them all situated, a big cloud came over and wind came up! It was a quick field trip.

That is a little hen. Seems smaller than my Japanese.

 

[pepperluvsmee]

AW!! She is so pretty. I bet they had a fun adventure on thier short little field trip! HA!
-Theresa

 

[tnkinhunting]

Here is my banty BT Jap who now has 12 babies - at the time of this photo she only had 8 but I have been adding to her flock and tonite will give her 3 more - she is out side in barn with a light during the day only. This pic doesn't show all her brood - but I am sure your banty can handle them!

 

[tnkinhunting]

pepperluvsmee - I love that pic!!!!!!!!

 

[pepperluvsmee]

Quote:
THANKS! I cry everytime I look at it. I lost all those chicks and mama to a lesser weasel in November, along with the rest of my flock. (23 birds in all)
Starting over, but I will never forget "Oscar" the little dark brown peep in the front. He was my fav.
-Theresa

 

[TooterBelle]

I have a small sizzle that sat 10 bantam eggs and sucessfully raised 8 babies, I don't think 9 will be a problem. I'm fixing to put 10 standard size chicks under each both bantam hens that are setting.