My Broody Hen is finally getting chicks...now what??

[KOdin]

Does your hen still have eggs to hatch in the nest?

Yup

 

[KOdin]

Just curious, who all attacks you? If it's the roosters/rooster that would make sense...but like, do all your hens attack you? Or are you saying the broody hens attack you? Or is it just some particulair hens...I've never heard of attack chickens before...XD I guess there's a first time for everything.

The mutts, Maybe they feel my blatant disrespect for them among my precious silkies. My uncle gave me some random chickens one year.... I’m sure they’d attack me if cornered but yes they’re broody right now.

 

[Tamdog]

I had a broody hen and called several hatchery's to find out how to put one day old babies under a broody hen. They told me not to wait until the chicks were much older than a day or so, make sure the broody hen was *very* broody meaning had been sitting for more than a couple of days- and hopefully longer..and put them under the hen at night, They said and I quote " You will know Immediately" stay and listen, if the mother hen softly clucks and the babies cooo and settle in they are accepted. If you hear the babies still chirping and sound distressed - it did not work, she said if it worked to be sure to wake up at dawn to check their morning activity and make sure they are still quiet and the hen is still calm. As it turns out I did not get access to fertile eggs and could not do it- BUT she made it sound easy and so did the other Hatchery's I spoke with. Good luck.

 

[Silkiechicmom]

If you have given her the chicks, wondering how it went.
Is this nest box at a level that the chicks can get in and out of easily?
Chicks dont navigate a ramp well and get separated from mom sometimes.

Hey!! I just made the transfer!!!! It seems likes going great so far....I ended up getting two silkies and two milliefleurs at the chicken place....I've been watching on the nest cam, praying she will know how to direct them for food and water!!! I'll keep you posted if you want!!

 

[Silkiechicmom]

If you have given her the chicks, wondering how it went.
Is this nest box at a level that the chicks can get in and out of easily?
Chicks dont navigate a ramp well and get separated from mom sometimes.

No, its not....its higher up...any suggestions on what I might do to help this? So far they have stayed under her....

 

[50-45-1]

Yup

So if I understand this thread correctly. You purchased day old chicks for your broody because your eggs are infertle?
Your hen does not know that and her nature tells her she must keep brooding for those eggs to hatch. Meanwhile she now has the chicks you gave her that NEED her to get off the nest and move them around for food and water. The eggs should have been removed when the chicks were added.
I'm glad she has accepted them.

 

[50-45-1]

No, its not....its higher up...any suggestions on what I might do to help this? So far they have stayed under her....

Is it high enough that they will be injured getting down? If so you must move them all to a floor nest at some point soon . broody will get up and leave the nest to deficate and will encourage those chicks to go with her.

 

[TK421]

Now step back and let mama do all the work. N0 need to watch or fuss or fret. I know because I’m doing all that right now with my 7 day olds that we slipped under the broody. Regardless of my nerves And worry, mama hen is doing all the work. No need to offer heat either.

 

[Silkiechicmom]

Thank you everyone for all of the advice!! After a few hours she kicked the two silkies out, pretty violently...and kept the two millie fleur...they stayed warm through the night and were eating and drinking in the coop this morning. I am concerned on what will happen if she heads down the ramp and they try to follow...but i will be home all day to keep an eye on the situation. I added a little apple cider vinegar to the water in the coop, because I noticed one had a clogged vent which I moved away the feces and she happily returned to the mom....the other silkies are now in my bathroom in a brooder! Thanks for the support!

 

[Matzwd]

I have five 2.5-week olds with a broody in a raised coop that has a long ramp. I had my husband create a barrier at the top of the ramp (we have a small porch there) to direct chicks toward the actual ramp. I'm fairly sure that before he did this they were all taking the "short" route down, and I have one mille fleur d'uccle baby that's been extremely docile and a slow learner. I went out every morning to help the ones down that couldn't figure it out and to help them back in at night. If only two or three followed mama back inside at night, she would happily settle in on them and leave the others standing outside. If they cried a lot, she might try to look for them and call them to follow her. The problem was, she didn't use the ramp. She flew straight up and straight down, calling them to follow, not understanding they couldn't do that. Just within the last couple of days, they no longer require help getting in or out of the coop and manage to find the ramp in their own.

It was tough catching those little nuggets, btw, to put them inside at night, except that mille baby. She'll climb right onto my hand without any distress cries anymore and let me put her inside.