Mama w/ Chicks in high temps

[CackleFruitCrnr]

I just got 2 chicks yesterday and snuck them under my broody hen last night. Everything seems to be going well except in north Texas our temps are in the mid to high 90s. Mama has refused to leave her nesting box for several days and now with the babies in there I have a security pen around all of them. Unfortunately my yard has very little shade. We have a solar fan we run inside the coop to help keep the temps down but I’m worried it’s not enough for this little family.

Is it bad to bring mama and the babies in the house for a few days?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I just got 2 chicks yesterday and snuck them under my broody hen last night. Everything seems to be going well except in north Texas our temps are in the mid to high 90s. Mama has refused to leave her nesting box for several days and now with the babies in there I have a security pen around all of them. Unfortunately my yard has very little shade. We have a solar fan we run inside the coop to help keep the temps down but I’m worried it’s not enough for this little family.

Is it bad to bring mama and the babies in the house for a few days?

To what end? It's best for them to acclimate to your temperatures. It will be harder to be cooler than warmer again.

You will need to create shade for your birds if they are to get through summer.

Generally a hen will stay on the nest for a few days, some of mine have stayed a week or even longer. She will move when she's ready.

 

[CackleFruitCrnr]

Thank you! That’s the reassurance I needed! I grabbed the patio umbrella and hauled it down to the coop to cover the nest box. Hopefully that will help. I just don’t want to lose my hen to heat stroke.