lost a hen, need some advise.

[Folly's place]

Let her do her thing, it's all fine. Broody hens can call it quits early, or late, and it's up to them at the time. Your hen is maybe happier with her youngsters than she is with the 'old lady'.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

I hope you have pullets in this group!
Mary

 

[aart]

Should I just let her be or ????

Yes...but.....

She's still snoozing with them in one of the nesting boxes while the ole biddy is up on one of the roosts.

Block the nests off so they can't sleep in them.

 

[Mrs. K]

A trick I have used successfully, as I like longer brooding, is putting a board up on the roosts. So there is a flat area for the chicks, and even the old bird. Block off the nests late afternoon, and in a couple of days, they should all be roosting.

However, while I would block off the nests because I hate birds roosting in them and making a huge mess, do know that if you do nothing, they will sort this out in the next several weeks and be roosting if you do nothing.

 

[kimberley848]

Let her do her thing, it's all fine. Broody hens can call it quits early, or late, and it's up to them at the time. Your hen is maybe happier with her youngsters than she is with the 'old lady'.
Mary

Thanks Mary, I do believe she is happier with the chicks... the ole lady was never buddy-buddy with the broody or vice versa, but they're my last older girls as I lost their best buddies earlier this year.

 

[kimberley848]

I hope you have pullets in this group!
Mary

Yes, all 3 are females.... I got lucky and was able to get Cream Legbars which can be sexed, and luckily all three have no roo characteristics.. so far, knock on wood!

 

[kimberley848]

A trick I have used successfully, as I like longer brooding, is putting a board up on the roosts. So there is a flat area for the chicks, and even the old bird. Block off the nests late afternoon, and in a couple of days, they should all be roosting.

However, while I would block off the nests because I hate birds roosting in them and making a huge mess, do know that if you do nothing, they will sort this out in the next several weeks and be roosting if you do nothing.

That was my first thought, to block the nesting boxes, but I would prefer they move to the roosts on their own. So I might wait and see how it goes. Last night, the ole girl was snoozing in a nesting box too, which is the first time she's done that in the main coop, so I was questioning what I should do. (She has an old injury, a torn/detached tendon ~she did go to the vet~, so she limps and moves slowly, although she is my heaviest girl because she doesn't miss meals~but I do question myself all the time about her quality of life vs injury/pain).
I can put up boards on the roosts if need be, but I think I'll wait and see how it goes. It made me question allowing them to use the nest instead of a roost because I don't want any bad habits to start, nor the mess in a nesting box. I'll give it another couple of weeks and see how it goes. I have seen the chicks roosting on various spots in the run, so hopefully they'll make the move soon.
These chicks are the first chicks that I've ever raised/keeping as I started with all my previous hens at 12wks or older and the roos I gave away were gone by 7wks.
So once again, THANK YOU for all the wonderful advise and I'll keep you posted. )
My picture taking skills are lacking, so at this point, no pics available...

 

[kimberley848]

I just had to share another update because I found this one hilarious! The chicks are now 10wks old and more or less staying near mama still. Last week I blocked off the nesting boxes, so everyone slept on the floor of the coop in corners and made a huge mess instead of trying the roosts out. I gave it up after 5 nights, took out the board and they went back to the nesting boxes.... So last night I was closing their door and saw that mama and chicks were on the roost! YAY. The old gal is now staying in a nesting box at night, I'm sure due to her bad leg. So tonight when closing the door, I brought a flash light to see where everyone was.... Mama and 2 chicks were on the roost and one chick was snuggled in the nesting box with my old girl! I have noticed in the last week or so, while they've been getting some yard time, the old girl is staying near the flock, and is more interested in life again... coming for snack time, etc.. Gabby, the old gal, is the last of my original starter flock (4 PBR's) and has never gone broody, but she's apparently picked out her new buddy or is trying out the role of stepmom!