How to tell when she's done being a mommy??

[ChickensRDinos]

Thanks for starting this thread. I just gave my broody fertilized eggs for the frist time yesterday. This will be my very first hatch. Should I remove mom and babies at first and put them back in the coop at 3 weeks? Or leave them out the whole time? I am so nervous!

 

[aoxa]

i'am concern that if mommy goes on the roost and baby is left on the floor.the baby may chill.

How old are the chicks? My RSL chicks tried to roost under mommy at 2 weeks. At 4 weeks they were roosting independently.

Thanks for starting this thread. I just gave my broody fertilized eggs for the frist time yesterday. This will be my very first hatch. Should I remove mom and babies at first and put them back in the coop at 3 weeks? Or leave them out the whole time? I am so nervous!

Your broody is your silkie?

It all depends on the broody like I said. If she is high up in the pecking order, she can go out with them almost instantly. If she is not, you may want to separate until the babies are old and fast enough to run from the others (2 weeks).

Also, best to separate them during the setting, or somehow prevent the others from trying to lay their eggs in her nest - thus creating a staggered hatch (or worse - broken eggs!) The latter has happened to me on many occasions. Unless it's a feisty broody. My feisty broodies don't take sass from anyone, and scream at anyone who approaches. I have other hens that are quiet and don't mind you reaching under them. I'd rather have a feisty broody though!

 

[ChickensRDinos]

The broody is actually a bantum frizzled cochin. My silkie has yet to start laying - 10 months, I'm getting worried! She is pretty bossy and mean when she is broody but I think I will separate her out at first just for piece of mind. I kind of like the crazed dinosaur noises she makes when they get close to her. lol.

 

[aoxa]

The broody is actually a bantum frizzled cochin. My silkie has yet to start laying - 10 months, I'm getting worried! She is pretty bossy and mean when she is broody but I think I will separate her out at first just for piece of mind. I kind of like the crazed dinosaur noises she makes when they get close to her. lol.

Me too! Those sounds make me laugh every time!

Don't worry about your silkie. I've had them lay that late. Any day now!

 

[Happy Chooks]

They don't need a heat lamp - momma hen will keep the chicks warm. I've had quite a few broodies and have never had one roost and leave the chicks cold. All but one of my broodies didn't roost before 5 weeks, and with the chicks. I have 1 broody right now that has had her 1 chick on the roost since he was 2 weeks old. He sleeps under her wing and does just fine.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

That sounds so amazingly cute!!!

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

Thanks for starting this thread. I just gave my broody fertilized eggs for the frist time yesterday. This will be my very first hatch. Should I remove mom and babies at first and put them back in the coop at 3 weeks? Or leave them out the whole time? I am so nervous!

I guess its up to you on moving them. I wasn't going to but I was out one day checking for eggs and noticed one of the eggs my cochin was on was broken. The baby probably only had about 4 more days or so till it was going to hatch. I decided to move her and her last 4 eggs. We just had other chickens laying their eggs in the same box and one must have stepped on it.

 

[aoxa]

They don't need a heat lamp - momma hen will keep the chicks warm.  I've had quite a few broodies and have never had one roost and leave the chicks cold.  All but one of my broodies didn't roost before 5 weeks, and with the chicks.  I have 1 broody right now that has had her 1 chick on the roost since he was 2 weeks old.  He sleeps under her wing and does just fine.

Did you get a picture of that? I never had my camera handy when my barred rock did this. She would have half of the chicks (21) up on the roost, between her legs and under her wings. It was so cute I could cry! She started this at 2 weeks. I had a ladder up on the roost for some juveniles to easily access the roost, and the 2 week old chicks had no problem!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Unfortunately no. I never think to take my camera when closing up for the night.

 

[aoxa]

Unfortunately no.  I never think to take my camera when closing up for the night.

That's the same here.. That would make a really cute picture