I just had my first hatch today what do I do

[TexasSam]

do I separat or leave them with the flock. Does the Mom's feed them and water them or do I need to get a feeder that they can reach

 

[Pyxis]

Congrats! Yes, you will need to put out a feeder that the chicks can eat from that contains chick feed. You will also need to put out a waterer that the chicks can easily use and is safe for them.

As for separating them, you can if you want and if you think the other birds would be aggressive to the chicks. Personally I don't because my flock does well with chicks and I have no need to separate.

 

[TexasSam]

Congrats! Yes, you will need to put out a feeder that the chicks can eat from that contains chick feed. You will also need to put out a waterer that the chicks can easily use and is safe for them.

As for separating them, you can if you want and if you think the other birds would be aggressive to the chicks. Personally I don't because my flock does well with chicks and I have no need to separate.

This is the first time so not sure what is going to happen. The rest of the flock is acting normal

 

[lazy gardener]

Do you have 2 broodies in there? What is the status with the second broody? One thing you have to do is look over your coop/run with an eagle eye: look for places a chick could get trapped. Is your coop/run predator proof? (hardware cloth, chicken wire is not predator proof!) Chicks are at risk to predation from rats and snakes as well as the larger predators. You also need to be sure that where ever Mama takes them, that they can get back, and not be separated from her. For example, she may take them down out of the coop, but they will not be able to get back up. Same if nest box is elevated. After 2 weeks, that should not be as much of an issue. Be sure there are no open waterers in the run that a chick could fall into. With 2 broodies, it may be possible that one will try to steal babies or eggs from the other. This can kill the babies. Other times 2 broodies co-parent with finesse. When I have chicks in a flock, I put the entire flock on unmedicated chick starter. The flock goes back to layer when pullets are approaching laying age.

 

[TexasSam]

Do you have 2 broodies in there? What is the status with the second broody? One thing you have to do is look over your coop/run with an eagle eye: look for places a chick could get trapped. Is your coop/run predator proof? (hardware cloth, chicken wire is not predator proof!) Chicks are at risk to predation from rats and snakes as well as the larger predators. You also need to be sure that where ever Mama takes them, that they can get back, and not be separated from her. For example, she may take them down out of the coop, but they will not be able to get back up. Same if nest box is elevated. After 2 weeks, that should not be as much of an issue. Be sure there are no open waterers in the run that a chick could fall into. With 2 broodies, it may be possible that one will try to steal babies or eggs from the other. This can kill the babies. Other times 2 broodies co-parent with finesse. When I have chicks in a flock, I put the entire flock on unmedicated chick starter. The flock goes back to layer when pullets are approaching laying age.

I had two broody hens setting the same eggs now they have hatched 6 eggs and there are 5 still in the nest and neither are setting those eggs. They moved the chicks to the floor of the coop and out of the nest. The hens are co parenting the hatchlings. They have them huddled up in the corner. I use hardware cloth and sealed off everything I can find either with wood or foam. They had their first meal today which was layer feed tomorrow I will get starter feed. Not sure A rat would have A chance against these girls their pretty protective. They ran the rooster off today because he got to close and he is A big boy. They tried to keep me away but I only moved them to clean up so they aren't walking in poo. Should I move them to the nest?

 

[chickens really]

Cute....Leave them on the floor...Easier for them to get around...congrats....

 

[aart]

Might put a nest on the floor for them to shelter in.
Sounds like they'll be fine with 2 mamas looking out for them.

 

[TexasSam]

Might put a nest on the floor for them to shelter in.
Sounds like they'll be fine with 2 mamas looking out for them.

Is it normal to have two hens hatch and raise the same clutch

 

[Ridgerunner]

Is it normal to have two hens hatch and raise the same clutch

It's not that unusual. There are various things that can possibly happen when you have two broodies in the same flock, whether co-parenting or each with their own chicks, either the same age or different ages. It's possible they can fight over the chicks or even the eggs as they start hatching. The eggs or chicks may or may not be harmed when they fight. They can co-parent, either hatching together on the same nest or raising the chicks together even if only one hatched them. They are living animals where a lot of different things could possibly happen.

There are various things that could possibly happen, but let's deal with your situation. You have two broody hens that hatched together and are apparently raising the chicks together. I think you can relax.

I don't know what your coop or outside area looks like. That could make a difference in what you do. Is your coop elevated and how much room in feet do you have inside and out?

When I have a broody hen bring chicks off the nest I have food and water on the coop floor where the chicks can get to it. I use a pet bowl for water but fill it with rocks so they can walk on them and not drown. I'm sure my coop and outside looks different in some ways to yours, but my broodies usually keep the chicks inside the coop for two or maybe three days before they take them outside. After they do take them outside they normally take them outside first thing every morning and spend all day outside. Every night they take them to sleep on the coop floor. Usually they take them to a corner to sleep but occasionally the hen may settle down in the middle of the floor.

My nests are elevated a little (not much) so the hen generally doesn't try to take them to a nest. A couple of times I've seen a hen try to get them to hop up into a nest maybe 10" to 12" off the floor. One time the chicks made it, it is surprising how well they can maneuver. The other time all the chicks could not get up there so the hen cam back out and took them to a corner of the coop. It's a good idea to be down there at bedtime to see what is going on but normally the broody can manage quite well without help. You can try to put some kind of nest on the coop floor if you wish, the broodies might or might not use it. They don't need it but it won't hurt.

 

[TexasSam]

It's not that unusual. There are various things that can possibly happen when you have two broodies in the same flock, whether co-parenting or each with their own chicks, either the same age or different ages. It's possible they can fight over the chicks or even the eggs as they start hatching. The eggs or chicks may or may not be harmed when they fight. They can co-parent, either hatching together on the same nest or raising the chicks together even if only one hatched them. They are living animals where a lot of different things could possibly happen.

There are various things that could possibly happen, but let's deal with your situation. You have two broody hens that hatched together and are apparently raising the chicks together. I think you can relax.

I don't know what your coop or outside area looks like. That could make a difference in what you do. Is your coop elevated and how much room in feet do you have inside and out?

When I have a broody hen bring chicks off the nest I have food and water on the coop floor where the chicks can get to it. I use a pet bowl for water but fill it with rocks so they can walk on them and not drown. I'm sure my coop and outside looks different in some ways to yours, but my broodies usually keep the chicks inside the coop for two or maybe three days before they take them outside. After they do take them outside they normally take them outside first thing every morning and spend all day outside. Every night they take them to sleep on the coop floor. Usually they take them to a corner to sleep but occasionally the hen may settle down in the middle of the floor.

My nests are elevated a little (not much) so the hen generally doesn't try to take them to a nest. A couple of times I've seen a hen try to get them to hop up into a nest maybe 10" to 12" off the floor. One time the chicks made it, it is surprising how well they can maneuver. The other time all the chicks could not get up there so the hen cam back out and took them to a corner of the coop. It's a good idea to be down there at bedtime to see what is going on but normally the broody can manage quite well without help. You can try to put some kind of nest on the coop floor if you wish, the broodies might or might not use it. They don't need it but it won't hurt.

Thank you. New question they are not sitting the last 4 eggs and there are babies inside them what can I do I don't have a incubator