Is Momma hen trying to abandon her five 10 day old chicks?

[ShaggysGirl]

Hi guys,
We have a cochin who has 5 chicks. She is in a dog crate ( cage type) in the corner of the coop with chicken wire around it to keep the other hens out and help keep the chicks in. Last night I went into the coop and Momma had hopped on the crate and over the 4 foot chicken wire. She was in a low nest box on two eggs..not hers and her chicks were huddled together as close to her as they could get.

I put her back in her area the chicks all ran to her one hopped up on her back, when I went back to check on her later she was up on the crate and the chicks peeping like crazy. I took the piece of wood that was on the top off and she went in the crate and the chicks all ran under her. This AM all was good her and chicks eating and drinking.

Any idea why she would up and leave them like that. We are getting some chilly nights and I hate to lose them in the cold if she hops out. I have thought about opening up the chicken wire and letting them all be together but them the other hens will pig out on chick crumbles. I had planned on taking the wire down when they were 4 weeks old or so.

Any thoughts?
Thanks
Rhonda

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Hi Rhonda,

Has she raised chicks before? Because not all hens that go broody will end up being good moms. i can't quite picture your set-up, but sounds like mom is able to get out and away from the chicks. Can she be confined in that crate with her chicks? Personally, i would try to keep her in a confined area with the chicks, with water and chick starter. If she seems to not be caring for the babies, i would take them away and put them in a brooder. You don't want to risk losing them because she doesn't want to deal with what happens after the eggs hatch.

Colleen

 

[elmo]

Could you fashion some kind of roof or lid on the pen to keep her in? Here's something along those lines that I just put together for a similar situation:

Lid open:

Lid closed:

I fashioned the lid from leftover hardware cloth, folded over the edges so they wouldn't be sharp, and zip tied the two pieces to the sides of the pen I'd put together from old birdcage parts. I made the lid in two pieces so it would be easier to open and close, sort of like the flaps on a cardboard box. Since the cage panels are zip tied together on three sides, the pen also folds mostly flat, too, for when I want to move it. It's working great, and I'm glad I have it because I have to keep an eye on a broody right now who left a very young, still wet chick behind in the nestbox yesterday. I put her and her chicks in this broody pen, and she's settled right down and is taking good care of them now.

Good luck with your hen! I hope she settles down to motherhood soon.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

A lot of times the broody does not realize that her chicks cannot follow her up and away. I have a cochin bantam Ruby - excellent mom but she also will hop up and over her "broody" area - she then paces the wire infront of her chicks trying to get back in (or saying "ha ha, I am here and your not!"

)

A top on the broody pen area is the best, unless you have taller wire (5 foot or so)

 

[ShaggysGirl]

Thanks guys, with the exception of her getting out she was seeming like a good mom. I'll try putting something over the top to keep her in or if that don't work out I can close the crate to keep her in that area, the chicks can go in and out of that but she can't if it's closed.
This is not a good pic of the set up but might give ya an idea.

The crate is in the corner then we have the wire going from between it and the nest boxes and around it to the wall , like a backwards " L" The top is open and there is a roost above it.
I'll get some better pictures soon.

Thanks guys
Rhonda

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Maybe just take the dog kennel out, and place the nestbox in the corner - I bet she is using the kennel as a step to help get herself over the wire.

 

[ShaggysGirl]

OMGosh HorseFeatherz NV, That will do it I bet!

Blaming being a blonde for not thinking of that! Duh!
Thanks
Rhonda

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Quote:
Goodness you made me

and it is with you not at you.
Genny

 

[ShaggysGirl]

Quote:
Goodness you made me

and it is with you not at you.
Genny

Glad I made you laugh, laughter is the best medicine so we should both have a great day