Is it cruel...

[Isaiah53]

Is it cruel to remove chicks from their mother hen after they've hatched abd put them in a brooder?

I am going away and have two difficult broody hens sitting on 12 and 9 eggs respectively. I also have 43 eggs in an incubator. I tried over and over to break these two hens from sitting but just could not. So they're all hatching within a day or two of each other. Since the broodies are in the coop area and all my chickens are free range, I don't want the chicks to be in danger outside, especially from crows, raptors and my cats. I would like to place them in a brooder with the ones that will be hatching from the incubator. Just wonder if it is cruel for the mother hen or am I reading too much into this?

Has anyone done this and what has your experience been? Thanks in advance!

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Hmm I’ve never hatched eggs so I’ll tag some people who have experience with broodies. @KikisGirls @oldhenlikesdogs what are your thoughts?

 

[Kiki]

I have not dealt with a broody myself but I have seen many people who pull the chicks from the broody as soon as they hatch in order to keep them safe.

Does the momma bird like this?
Probably not.
You have to decide which you prefer...momma to be happy or chicks to be safe.

 

[Fishkeeper]

It's hard to tell exactly how much of what's happening a chicken actually understands, as opposed to instinctive behavior. Broodies won't stop being broody unless they see/hear the chicks, for one thing. The hen will probably go around calling and trying to find the chicks, but there's no real way to tell if she actually understands that chicks are missing or if she's just doing that because her instincts tell her to make those noises until the peeping sounds come back.
Basically, there's no way to tell how upset the hen actually is. It's better for the chicks, though. Upsetting the hen is better than having the chicks killed by predators.
Can you isolate the hen and chicks in a small, predator-proof pen and keep them safe? That's a possibility.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I regularly pull chicks and poults from my broody bantams. I don't find it cruel at all. I find it minimizes stress to remove them asap after they hatch, often I pull them still wet. The longer they stay and peep away the more the hen bonds to them. I have seen many broodies have no idea what a chick is and what to do with them. Many just like being broody.

 

[Birds of a Feather]

I've never taken chicks away from a broody hen. It think it would probably make the hen upset. Some hens really do get attached to their chicks, and would be heartbroken if they were taken away (I've heard that hens talk to the chicks in the eggs and during hatching). Then again, some hens are not good mothers, and will sometimes attack or abandon their chicks. Is there a way to lock the broody and chicks in a separate, safe, enclosure with some chick starter and a shallow-rimmed water?

 

[Flamens Farm]

If you do not have another place for the hen and eggs to go for safety, I have another suggestion and that would be to take the eggs from the broody hen that are about to hatch and put them in the incubator and place a few other eggs under the hen.

 

[Birds of a Feather]

If you do not have another place for the hen and eggs to go for safety, I have another suggestion and that would be to take the eggs from the broody hen that are about to hatch and put them in the incubator and place a few other eggs under the hen.

That's a great idea!

 

[Alabama Fly]

When I have had to remove chicks from the mother i usually leave her one chick. I can't bear to see them go through all that work with no reward. Usually under most conditions a momma hen can keep one chick safe. Biggest danger I've encountered are deep water container s. I provide a quart jar chick waterer while chick is small.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

It's hard to tell exactly how much of what's happening a chicken actually understands, as opposed to instinctive behavior. Broodies won't stop being broody unless they see/hear the chicks, for one thing. The hen will probably go around calling and trying to find the chicks, but there's no real way to tell if she actually understands that chicks are missing or if she's just doing that because her instincts tell her to make those noises until the peeping sounds come back.
Basically, there's no way to tell how upset the hen actually is. It's better for the chicks, though. Upsetting the hen is better than having the chicks killed by predators.
Can you isolate the hen and chicks in a small, predator-proof pen and keep them safe? That's a possibility.

Is it really too much trouble to make a pen for her? I think it is a Great idea!! plus where are you supposed to keep the chicks too old for the brooder??

I've never taken chicks away from a broody hen. It think it would probably make the hen upset. Some hens really do get attached to their chicks, and would be heartbroken if they were taken away (I've heard that hens talk to the chicks in the eggs and during hatching). Then again, some hens are not good mothers, and will sometimes attack or abandon their chicks. Is there a way to lock the broody and chicks in a separate, safe, enclosure with some chick starter and a shallow-rimmed water?

X2!!

When I have had to remove chicks from the mother i usually leave her one chick. I can't bear to see them go through all that work with no reward. Usually under most conditions a momma hen can keep one chick safe. Biggest danger I've encountered are deep water container s. I provide a quart jar chick waterer while chick is small.

X222!!!