im confuzzled....and so is my hen?!

[crazycluck86]

Ok....my broody was given 3 day old chicks to raise exactly a week ago. A friend of ours had a young broody that just left her chicks, they are the same age as ours. I suggested using my hen as a surrogate, so yesterday evening we snook them in....great! Everyone's happy, this morning still ok,the broody was even teaching them to eat! Then she must have realised they weren't hers...so now she is pecking at them. They are miniature silkies and the other chicks are a lot bigger, although they are the same age, they also seem a little behind-the other chicks are preening and coming from under mum more, but the silkies are like newborns stumbling around. Could this be the reason the broody is pecking at them? I left her to get on with it, and the next thing everyone is all tucked under mum purring??!! Is she rejecting them or not? I don't no what to do. Any advice greatly received

 

[3riverschick]

Quote:
If your hen is purring, it means she is very happy. Hens purr when they are very happy.
Purr at your chicks sometime. It's really interesting. They stop whatever they are doing and come towards you and just listen.
Best,
Karen

 

[Judy]

Mamas will peck at chicks as part of their training -- or something. Watch and see if it's not gentle pecking, maybe to get them to stay close or something. I agree, the purring is a great sign.

 

[crazycluck86]

Its so strange, she is such a great mum and when she pecks them she makes a kind of growling sound, and the chicks just freeze, but when they are under her shes happy. I have just covered her dog crate over so its dark and I am keeping everything crossed that she cares for them, poor little things have had a rough start

 

[crazycluck86]

*update* the chick was rejected and now I no why! We seperated them, I decided to put them together so they have eachother although she accepted one. I put them in a brooder and fed/watered them. The smaller chick was eating as if it were starving. ...then it started to choke on the chick crumb! Its crop wasn't full like its sibling's. I ran to get the tweezers and a syringe of water and managed to get most of the food out.i guess this goes to show mum nos best! I just hope this little one will be ok?