I'm confused...

[Amy Moon]

Hello Folks,

Please allow me to lay out my situation here, To give a better picture for my question(s)

I've been raising chickens for at least a dozen years, longer tending landlords chickens for about 6. At least 7 or 8 years ago, I got my first broody hens. I've got 11 hens and a rooster right now. And one of my older hens decided to go broody a couple months ago. Shes at least 4 years old. I should keep better records. Anywho, I couldn't let her sit because I didn't think she would be able to be moved from the broody place I have sectioned off in a corner of the coop for the chicks I got about 3 weeks ago. I needed that area for them.

I've noticed her clucking the chicks out to eat, like momma's do. I've been been letting them mix just to see how it went today. Only while supervised. She is also laying down, I'm thinking she's wanting them to get under her wings possibly. But since they have never had a mom, They're just milling around her, but nothings really happening. I'd love to turn the chicks loose longer or even permanently. But of the hens. So far I'm only seeing interactions with about 4 other hens. The one's I want to keep for a bit longer. They don't seem to care. I need to get Jim busy on thinning the flock way down. even rooster to go. That could make things much easier.

Anywho, on to the question. I've sectioned off another small area for the 7 chicks I'm getting this evening. Should I let her take over these kids should she be drawn to them like these older ones? I don't think I want to chance leaving her with them tonight unless they absolutely connect like a momma and her own chicks. But even then.

Also if I do do that. My other concern is, I don't think I could comfortably lock her in with them because the area is so small. But leaving that open brings on other concerns. Anyone have some thoughts on this. I've never seen this before. Even with hens that had been momma's already. Learning something new every day and lovin' it.

I pray that is coherent. Hope someone else has experienced this and can help me out. ~ God Bless

Edit; And another thing. I don't recall ever hearing before. Don't mean much tho.. While she is laying down, she was growling(?) for lack of the proper word.. Then I started hearing someone outside doing it too. Never did see who it was. Rooster maybe(?) He was closest to the little door.

Or was that purring(?) I'm confused...

 

[lmatvey]

I once had a hen that couldn’t set to save her life! She would try, and try, but I think 3 days was her longest “set”. I happened to have, at that time, a chicken that could set forever and hatch out batch after batch of chicks, but she got so preoccupied hatching EVERYTHING, she neglected, or didn’t protect her chicks enough, or something, and the hen that couldn’t set, “stole” the babies!!!! She took them, like they were hers and violently defended them! She would take them to food and water, and kept them safe. She was pretty low on the pecking order, and I did see the other hens boss her a little bit, but she handled it! They free ranged at the time, and she always brought them in at night.
The next year, I saw her try to set again and went to the store and bought her chicks. She took them!! She took every chick, and even “baby sat” the other hen’s chicks from time to time. Once she had 50 babies to take care of!!! It was a lot, and only for a few hours, but she managed!
Anyway, I thought of her when I read your description. God bless whatever you choose to try! Life is an adventure!

 

[Amy Moon]

Thank you. That is quite the situation.

I'm not quite sure whats gonna happen. But from what I am seeing, I have a new situation. I got 4 of the 7 new chicks tonight. The other 3 will be in tomorrow.

I did put the chicks in their little area and stepped aside a tad to see what she would do. She did go in there and laid with them for about 10 minutes. Then left on her own and went up into her nest. I'm thinking they are going to send her into a brood.

I really to want to give her some eggs and let her hatch some. I truly do think she would make a good momma. I just don't like the nest hatch, but may not have a choice for a bit yet. I don't want her sitting again with no babies at the end.

Hopefully I will be able to get the older ones on the roost soon. I do have a small ladder I made to help previous chicks get up on the roost. Some really do have problems. But anyway, hopefully I can get the older ones on the roost and her moved into the brood pen if she decides to go that root..

But that leaves the younger one getting cramped when they get bigger. I learned a long time ago to play things by ear, no by eyes every situation has it's own challenges.

Anywho, Thank you. Not sure whats she will decide. I'd love for her to take over these youngest ones at least but heck. I also wouldn't mind 4 or 5 more chicks. I've got at least 4 dozen eggs going out a week.

God Bless

I do believe one of my chicks of this older bunch is also a cockerel. So now I need to figure out which boy I'm gonna keep in the future. 2 roosters is just to much. Well, it has been in the past...

Sorry for babbling...

 

[lmatvey]

I really enjoyed your description! She seems like a “good ol’ gal” I hope she finds it in her heart to raise chicks, lol. I have enjoyed visiting with you and please Keep me posted on how the situation develops.
I read somewhere (probably here) that keeping roosters in trios lessens or eliminates the Roos fighting each other, and have kept that rule ever since (if I have more than one rooster). If that’s any help....

 

[Tamdog]

I once had a hen that couldn’t set to save her life! She would try, and try, but I think 3 days was her longest “set”. I happened to have, at that time, a chicken that could set forever and hatch out batch after batch of chicks, but she got so preoccupied hatching EVERYTHING, she neglected, or didn’t protect her chicks enough, or something, and the hen that couldn’t set, “stole” the babies!!!! She took them, like they were hers and violently defended them! She would take them to food and water, and kept them safe. She was pretty low on the pecking order, and I did see the other hens boss her a little bit, but she handled it! They free ranged at the time, and she always brought them in at night.
The next year, I saw her try to set again and went to the store and bought her chicks. She took them!! She took every chick, and even “baby sat” the other hen’s chicks from time to time. Once she had 50 babies to take care of!!! It was a lot, and only for a few hours, but she managed!
Anyway, I thought of her when I read your description. God bless whatever you choose to try! Life is an adventure!

You had the Mother Hen of the World- Did you rename her Mother Teresa?

 

[lmatvey]

You had the Mother Hen of the World- Did you rename her Mother Teresa?

lol, nope, she was just Goldie. Funniest chicken, she was 2 when I got her, and never laid well, or set, but loved the babies!

 

[Amy Moon]

Hello Folk,

Thank you so much for everyone's input and interest. I finally got off my bum and went out to let the older ones run-a-muck while I put down fresh shavings. I had also went out around midnight getting the kids some vitamin water when I went to check on everyone before calling it a night. Animal care is a 24 hour job I enjoy.

I don't typically let my chicken free range on rainy overcast days. But I really wanted to see what would transpire. Never fails to start raining.

Wanna-be momma didn't go out free range today like she normally would. Instead she did all she could to get the older kids to follow her outside.

She'd come in and call them to food a few times then would turn and walk out the little door calling them the whole way. I also found one time she had laid down by the ramp and continued trying to call them out.

There are about 5 of the 8 of them coming to see what she has went called for something to eat. and at least 2 that would think about following her out but haven't quite made it to the little door.

I do believe, given enough time. She will have them out foraging. The good thing about it taking some time is that will allow them to get more of their feathers since they don't really know about going under mom to get warm.

As for the little littlest one's. I'd love to have her take control of them also. But just maybe if I help it to go with age. She will have the bigger ones on the roost so I can focus on the littlest one's more.

Oh I wanted to touch on the rooster stuff. I did try having 2 roosters for my 20 girls as the time. But i felt it was just to much for them. The boys seem to be interested in the same few few and baldness because a real issue. So I cut back to one.

As for fighting, if the boys were raised from the same hatch or what ever. I didn't have a real issue with the fighting. There may have been a few scraps but nothing serious. Just easier with just one. I get my fertile eggs and someone to protect the girls.

Anywho, thank you all for you interest.. and input. Sorry I didn't get back sooner. I do tend to babble on don't I....

I'll try to keep you updated. No promises. Thank you...

 

[lmatvey]

It sounds like you have a wonderful set up and live your chooks! I hope you have lots of good times with your ”mama“ hen

 

[Amy Moon]

Hello, Does anyone have any ideas on the easiest way to get poo off an older kids toe? It was easy when it had shavings mixed in. A little warm water and it was done.

But this kid has poo up to it's 2nd joint, knee(?). It's not so think that she can't bend her joints. I'm just more concerned with the clump just below the knee joint.

Any thoughts on an easy way to remove this without hurting her? I did soak it. And I plan on going out later this evening and massaging in some mineral oil.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I don't want this to getting built up and making things worse.

Thank you for your time.. ~God Bless

Edit: Sitting out with my kids, letting the older ones run a bit. I was thinking about this post. I'm talking about toes and I mention knee. How silly is that. For clarification. I'm talking about one toe on one foot. I think I need to get some serious sleep. Will check in tomorrow...

 

[Amy Moon]

Hello again. I'm curious as usual. Re; the older kid with the ring of poo around her toe just below the second knuckle.

I noticed it yesterday and don't think it was there much longer because I was out at least 2 nah, 3 or 4 times a day with a small bowl of very warm water and a rag to soak feet to clean if needed.

I did finally get that ring chipped off and actually noticed it wasn't poo on the toe down to the claw. It was in fact a lack of blood circulation. To my question.

Since it was taken care of fairly quickly. Will she get circulation back into that toe. Or is it still a possibility of her losing that part of the toe anyways?

Some things just need 4 hands...

~ God Bless