Momma left her baby :(

[TennisFarm]

O.K..I know I'm crazy, but I'm so sad for little baby. This is our first little hatchling. It is a month old and has been in it's own coop/pen with momma. She decided tonight she is DONE with baby and wanted to go back with the adults. She was frantically pacing back and forth to get out the door to go, so I opened it to see what she would do..She RAN to the dust bath, dusted off and went into the big coop with the other hens. Meanwhile, little baby is screeching for momma to come back and looking all over the pen for her. It broke my heart to walk away. She has baby ducks on one side of her. I had tried last week to put her in with the ducks and they went after her. So she's all alone. I know I can't put her with the adults because they've already tried to eat her last week. How long will it take for them to accept her? I know..third world problems..

 

[redranger209]

O.K..I know I'm crazy, but I'm so sad for little baby. This is our first little hatchling. It is a month old and has been in it's own coop/pen with momma. She decided tonight she is DONE with baby and wanted to go back with the adults. She was frantically pacing back and forth to get out the door to go, so I opened it to see what she would do..She RAN to the dust bath, dusted off and went into the big coop with the other hens. Meanwhile, little baby is screeching for momma to come back and looking all over the pen for her. It broke my heart to walk away. She has baby ducks on one side of her. I had tried last week to put her in with the ducks and they went after her. So she's all alone. I know I can't put her with the adults because they've already tried to eat her last week. How long will it take for them to accept her? I know..third world problems..

She needs friends. It’s never a good idea to let a broody only have one chick. Look at a local livestock auction or certain feed stores let the unsold chicks grow out.

 

[bobbi-j]

For future consideration, let mama and baby back in with the flock before she weans the baby. That way the baby will already be integrated into the flock. A few years ago, I had a hen hatch out a single chick. They were in the flock from day one, and when she was done raising him, he was able to live with the flock peacefully. He still roosted with her every night, so he wasn't abandoned by himself.

 

[TennisFarm]

For future consideration, let mama and baby back in with the flock before she weans the baby. That way the baby will already be integrated into the flock. A few years ago, I had a hen hatch out a single chick. They were in the flock from day one, and when she was done raising him, he was able to live with the flock peacefully. He still roosted with her every night, so he wasn't abandoned by himself.

I tried a week ago to let them both out with the flock and the other hens were going after it. Should I try to let the baby with the flock now that momma is there too? I'm afraid they will kill it

 

[TennisFarm]

She needs friends. It’s never a good idea to let a broody only have one chick. Look at a local livestock auction or certain feed stores let the unsold chicks grow out.

She had 4 eggs, and the 2nd one that hatched the other hens dug into the pen and killed it, and the other eggs were not fully developed and momma abandoned them for her hatched chick :/

 

[redranger209]

At this point I’d rehome it.

 

[dotporter]

That baby is adorable. Is it a frizzle? My own suggestion would be to put mom with the baby and see if she goes back to momming. Give her an hour or so a day to dust bath and socialize and put her back with the baby. Maybe even give her special treats while with baby so she isn't as eager to leave? If that doesn't work, maybe you could bring it indoors until it is bigger.

 

[bobbi-j]

That baby is adorable. Is it a frizzle? My own suggestion would be to put mom with the baby and see if she goes back to momming. Give her an hour or so a day to dust bath and socialize and put her back with the baby. Maybe even give her special treats while with baby so she isn't as eager to leave? If that doesn't work, maybe you could bring it indoors until it is bigger.

I highly doubt she will. From what I have observed over the years, once they are done, they are done. The mama hormones are gone and she's ready to be a regular chicken again.

 

[bobbi-j]

I tried a week ago to let them both out with the flock and the other hens were going after it. Should I try to let the baby with the flock now that momma is there too? I'm afraid they will kill it

The only way to know is to try it when you have a chance to observe and intervene if needed. Make sure there are hiding places where the baby can get, but the big girls can't, and make sure it knows where they are. (One method I read on that was to let the big ones out to free range, put the youngster in the run and let it get acquainted with its surrounding, spooking it now and then to make sure it runs to the hiding places.) Make sure there are more than one feeder and waterer available. I don't think mama will protect it now that she's done mothering, but you can try. That's the only way you'll find out.

 

[NoFlyBackFarm]

Mine hatched two chicks and she looked after them. Maybe put the baby with her. Mine will protect them from the flock and I've got three roos!