Mother hen not caring for chicks?

[sourland]

Mothering instinct is a heritable trait. Sounds as if this hen inherited poor mothering from her mother. Good move on not hatching more of her eggs or allowing her to set and raise chicks.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have a hen who only wants to sit not raise babies. (AC) her daughter loves to raise babies. Another broody I had hatched out babies and raised them for 2 weeks then went back to sitting on eggs. Her 2 week old babies were adopted by old hens that never raised babies. That happened a couple times.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

I have a hen who only wants to sit not raise babies. (AC) her daughter loves to raise babies. Another broody I had hatched out babies and raised them for 2 weeks then went back to sitting on eggs. Her 2 week old babies were adopted by old hens that never raised babies. That happened a couple times.

How did the adoption process go?- Did the older hens just call the chicks and they followed or did you intervene and put them with old hen that was broody?

 

[gimmie birdies]

The hens did it on their own.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Wish I had your hens that adopt @gimmie birdies
My poor chickies, mother hen was roosting and chick couldn't get up to her. I picked them all up and put them in the nest. mother hen doesnt care about chicks cheeping so loud, no response for hen. My other hens wouldn't be roosting untill chicks are at least 6 weeks old. And would never leave any chick cheeping.

 

[gimmie birdies]

That is sad. I just rehomed 3 pullets that were 13 weeks old. The momma adopted them at 4 weeks old and treated them like her own babies. Now she has to re-adjust to not having chicks, she will prolly want to sit on some eggs.

 

[MissMonty]

For sanity purposes it'll probably be much easier to just take the chicks and put them in a brooder. Get a heat source for them I use lamps although most people use heating panels. I keep my chicks inside our laundry room as its easier to keep an eye on them there. Get them food and water and they'll grow up just fine without momma.

I also wouldn't hatch out any more of this hen's eggs. If you're running a breeding set up I'd be moving her out of it, rehoming, or culling. The fact that you had a mother doing the same thing means it likely is genetic and I don't have time for that in my coop. You could always let her do the incubating process but then you take the chicks into the brooder once they hatch. You will run the risk of continuing that lack of motherly instincts onto the chicks tho if they're her eggs.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

For sanity purposes it'll probably be much easier to just take the chicks and put them in a brooder. Get a heat source for them I use lamps although most people use heating panels. I keep my chicks inside our laundry room as its easier to keep an eye on them there. Get them food and water and they'll grow up just fine without momma.

I also wouldn't hatch out any more of this hen's eggs. If you're running a breeding set up I'd be moving her out of it, rehoming, or culling. The fact that you had a mother doing the same thing means it likely is genetic and I don't have time for that in my coop. You could always let her do the incubating process but then you take the chicks into the brooder once they hatch. You will run the risk of continuing that lack of motherly instincts onto the chicks tho if they're her eggs.

I do breed and keep some myself but I have another coop I have 2 pullets I don't want to breed with but enjoy their eggs, so I can add her in there. I only kept the other 2 to keep my cockerel company, so he'll have another friend I guess.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

That is sad. I just rehomed 3 pullets that were 13 weeks old. The momma adopted them at 4 weeks old and treated them like her own babies. Now she has to re-adjust to not having chicks, she will prolly want to sit on some eggs.

Ow so sweet! I'd keep any chicks hatched from her eggs! Such great motherly instincts.

 

[gimmie birdies]

She doesn't lay, just sits.