Mama hen maybe abandoning chicks at 3 days?

[JackieDohoney]

That is a huge amount of eggs. She doesn’t even look big enough to cover that many! She’s certainly a special little mama. Terrific job! It would be nearly impossible to NOT get attached! So adorable, and such a pretty mama too. Well, it sounds like any introductions to the flock are out of the question for chick safety. Please keep us updated with how the new family is doing. And, photos are always appreciated!

Thank you! She’s definitely not big enough. I’m pretty positive the only way she made it work is because we were in the mid-nineties for about three weeks. Coincidence? I don’t think so! She might have been able to fully cover seven or eight, but not thirteen. I’ll keep you guys updated! They are cute little cheeps, even if I wasn’t expecting them!

 

[WoDia]

Thank you! She’s definitely not big enough. I’m pretty positive the only way she made it work is because we were in the mid-nineties for about three weeks. Coincidence? I don’t think so! She might have been able to fully cover seven or eight, but not thirteen. I’ll keep you guys updated! They are cute little cheeps, even if I wasn’t expecting them!

Well, this story isn’t exactly like yours, but it does have something to do with higher temperatures. Years ago, my Black Australorp Onyx had a hidden nest in a dark corner of their building. I knew she was a bit broody, because she was puffing up and doing that broody mama walk. But, I really had no idea she had a very well-concealed nest. I saw her every time I was in the building, so I thought she was only wanting to start sitting. It was the middle of summer (temps in the 90s), and I had transferred all of my hens to another building because we were preparing to renovate the first one. About a week and a 1/2 after I moved the hens, I was going to check on the roosters that I hadn’t moved yet. I heard peeps from inside as I approached. I was shocked, to say the least! I quickly opened the door to find my roosters all standing like statues and staring silently into a dark corner beneath the rows of nesting boxes. I could not believe my eyes… Black Australorp hatchlings! Onyx had concealed the nest under the bedding. It’s still incredible to me that the roosters didn’t harm them, and I still feel horrible about moving Onyx from a nest I didn’t even know she had. That was my first, and only, experience with incubation finishing without the broody. So, I do agree with you that high temperatures can help a hen (or no hen, in my situation!) successfully incubate.