Is my hen broody?

[Cocochicken]

 

[L1sa]

That is so gorgeous. Congrats. I've really enjoyed reading this post. Good luck for your lovely babies.

 

[Cocochicken]

That is so gorgeous. Congrats. I've really enjoyed reading this post. Good luck for your lovely babies.

Thanks! They are so cute! I peaked in once today and saw 5 of them lined up in front of mama. Haven’t counted seven yet....not sure if there’s two more or maybe not quite yet hatched. Time will tell

 

[Cocochicken]

Can anyone shed some light on why mama hens poops are so liquid? I’ve read that high protein (eating chick starter) can cause this. Also being a real change in diet. Is this cause for real concern? I’ve also been putting wet mash in ther a few times a day. Could this be a contributing factor? Chicks seem to be eating the dry crumble off the ramp and they have found their water, so maybe they don’t need me to give them wet mash and that might help the situation? Thoughts? Oh...by the way....all 7 hatched!

 

[aart]

Is she stuck under that heat lamp?
She may be too warm and drinking more water than normal?
Pics of poop might help.

 

[Cocochicken]

Is she stuck under that heat lamp?
She may be too warm and drinking more water than normal?
Pics of poop might help.

I don’t think it’s because she’s too warm because the heat lamp is directed to an area that is outside the nest where I have the chick water. She has actually positioned herself right under it instead of staying in her nest where it would be cooler, so I have to assume she’s doing that because she knows the chicks need to be warmer. Plus it only raises the temp in that area about 8 degrees max and she has other areas to go if she wants to be cooler. I will go check and see if there’s some fresh stuff to take a photo of and post it shortly.

 

[Cocochicken]

This one is actually not as liquid as the one earlier. It’s more mush than liquid. Thoughts?

 

[aart]

Eh...I wouldn't worry about it, she's probably eating more now and her digestion is getting back up to speed.

so I have to assume she’s doing that because she knows the chicks need to be warmer.

She can keep the chicks plenty warm on her own and is just enjoying the extra heat.

 

[Cocochicken]

Aart the chicken juggler. Hi there! It’s been two and a half weeks all seven chicks seem to be doing well!. I’m now thinking about the next step of integrating them with the rest of the flock. I’m thinking of doing this by opening up a couple sections of the broody pen to give mom and chicks the freedom to leave the broody pen, hence making it possible for both groups to mix. I want to do this as soon as possible while mom is still being sufficiently protective of them and hasn’t weaned them yet. I understand weaning happens at about 6 weeks. My questions are....do you think now is the right time to try this? If I do this, it will now be possible for mom and chicks to venture outside and down the ramp. It is still winter.....do you think chicks will be able to make it up and down a regular chicken ramp? I’m concerned about them loosing their way outside in the pen and not being able to make it back to warmth. Of course I plan to keep a really close eye on the situation, but do you think it’s worth the try at this point?

 

[aart]

My questions are....do you think now is the right time to try this? If I do this, it will now be possible for mom and chicks to venture outside and down the ramp. It is still winter.....do you think chicks will be able to make it up and down a regular chicken ramp?

Yep.
Yep....you'll have to watch them, make sure they get back into coop.
How steep is ramp to the outside?...I quickly scanned thru thread and didn't see any exterior pics of coop and run.