I have a broody hen who has adopted all my 11 new baby chicks but ????

[JoeOxfordCT]

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The chicks are about a month old now.

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She was broody prior to my getting the chicks. She wasn't really laying much and I had no Roo at the time either.

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Yes to everything but bedding down with them. The Maran sleeps in a nesting box while all the chicks bed together in a box on the floor of the coop.

I thought she was being a great mother but as I spent more time around her & the chicks I noticed she seemed to favor the darker colored GLWs, Australorps, Jersey Giants over the lighter Delawares, RIRs. The EEs are kind of mottled tan brown so they seem to get a pass too. I do see the Mom pulling chick starter out of the feeder and then seeming to purposely let it fall out of her mouth so the chicks at her feet can scratch at it.

I only have two other mature hens at this time following a dog attack. The chicks, including one roo chick, are the replacements. I would not have mixed the chicks directly with the adults if I had more adults. I have witnessed the broody Maran chase the adults away from the chicks too when she thought they got too close. If I have to pull some chicks out of the coop right now I just don't have a good alternative spot for them. I had them in a large box in my porch prior to going to the coop. They've grown alot since they've been able to get outside and supplement their diet free ranging. The wounded chick is acting fine this morning and I have no doubt she'll recover as long as she doesn't get attacked again.

I would like to hear more about breaking a broody hen as I have not had to deal with this before....(I think....)

 

[Sunny Side Up]

What I've found is that each hen has her own component of brooding & mothering skills, some just do a better job than others. I think it's great that this hen is doing as much as she is with month-old chicks. Sometimes you can get a broody to adopt day-olds, I haven't heard of them adopting month-olds. Some hens are even ready to leave their chicks at that age.

I think you can keep them all together, as long as no one is getting injured. You can feed them all chick starter, maybe put a little oyster shell grit in a place where only the hens can reach, so they'll get calcium for laying. Maybe also put a little place where the chicks can run into for safety if they're getting bothered by the adults.

I'd try to return the wounded chick to the flock as soon as she's healed, and watch them carefully to make sure they'll accept her back. Or you can bring in one or two more to keep it company (make sure they don't peck at the wounded one).

It would be impossible to know just why the hen rejected that chick, she must have had her own bird-brained reason. I do not think you could change her mind or improve her behavior with any of the punishment or scare tactics suggested, or even with positive reinforcement.

The best way I've found to break a hen's broody spell is to put her in a wire-bottomed cage, like a rabbit or parrot cage, set it up off the ground on sawhorses or blocks, supply food & water but NO bedding. Put it under cover but not in deep shade. Put the hen in for 3-4 days, watch her upon release. If she scurries back to her nest, stick her back in the broody buster. If not, she's over her spell -- for a while!