Is Santa Claus leaving chicks in our shed?

[RedheadErin]

Seriously. This is the second time in about 4 days my son has gone out to the shed and found a brand new chick, with no mother. There is one nest of eggs that everybody seems to lay in and sit on, but doesn't really belong to anybody. Apparently they are coming out of there? How is this happening?

 

[SunnySkyFarm]

Gah, that's freaky. Sounds like good 'ole Saint Nick IS leaving chicks in your shed!

No I have no idea how this is happening.
But just maybe could a neighbor be doing this?

 

[RedheadErin]

My son has told me that one hen is setting on the nest, but every time she gets up, another hen plops an egg in there! How hard is this on the developing chicks, I wonder?

 

[Megan Amber]

Om my gosh!!! The same thing (well almost) thing is happening to me.Only it's happening with old abandoned nests, ones that did hatch chicks, but weeks ago that I hadn't cleaned up, I started leaving them on purpose as I always get at least one "motherless chick" The chicks act different to I have found . This sounds crazy but I actually wonder if it's not a new evolutionary step in the chickens.

 

[RedheadErin]

How do they act different? I don't see anything unusual about ours.

 

[Megan Amber]

Ours are more independent, they stand their and cheep, seemingly calling for a mother, but (a) the mothers, DO NOT like them, and (b) they often run from a mother and instead are calling for other chicks, where as if I separate a chick it will accept me as mother hen, these chicks do not, I had two this spring and they bonded to each other not me or a mother, I tried to put them under a hen with other newborn chicks, and all the broodies beat them up horribly, one more than the other, when the badly injured one died, the other immediatly became lethargic and died within the hour, even though it was perfectly fine moments before. They do not all act different and I'm not real sure as to what's going one, it is odd. Sounds crazy, lol.

 

[RedheadErin]

That really is strange! they say chickens are the last descendent of the T-Rex, so maybe they are reverting to their reptilian roots......???? Regardless, they all seem healthy. They don't really think much of me as their mom, but one did bond with my son since he helped it out of its shell. ANd yes, now that you mention it, they do seem much more interested in other chicks than in any of us humans.