My mamma chicken has lost her mind

[WEHolland]

I had a chicken go broody (1 yo BuffOrp) and she would not be swayed from staying all day in the nesting box. So I decided to get her something to sit on, fertilized eggs are crazy expensive here so I got her 2 chicks, shoved them under her behind and all seem to be going well. They are now 2 weeks old living in a dog kennel in my bathroom. Today Mom decided to knock over the water and the food and just make a total mess of everything. Wet shavings everywhere! I just cleaned it out 2 days ago so its not stinky yet. I'd love to put them outside where a mess isn't a problem. it is 70s during the day and 50's at night. I have a small coop with a big fence to run so I'm hesitant to introduce them to the other 6. What is going on? Mom is in there now just scratching and pecking everywhere and the chicks are peeping. I tried to put more water and food in there and she knocked that over too. Help?!?!

Thanks,
Wendy

 

[lazy gardener]

Is she keeping them warm? Calling them to food? A kennel is too small a space for a hen to be teaching chicks how to be chickens. If she is keeping them warm and calling them to food, there's no reason for them to be in the house. If she's not performing her motherly duties, kick her out and raise them yourself.

 

[WEHolland]

So should I now have them in a pen outside and start to introduce them to the other chickens? Obviously not in the same pen, but next to the main pen so they start introductions?

 

[lazy gardener]

I wouldn't have brought them inside in the first place. Hens have been raising chicks outside ever since there have been hens. Broody hens even hatch and raise chicks in northern snowy winters!

 

[WEHolland]

Currently I have no place to sequester them away from the flock in the coop. My coop is small. I was told by other chicken people that they should be away from the other adults because they will pick on/kill the babies. So I brought them inside so they could get a bit bigger before I brought them to the coop.

I came here with questions trying to understand my animals. Thank you for making me feel so welcome.

 

[MrsEskew]

I'm no expert here, just giving my opinion. I think your idea about putting her and the babies in the pen beside the other one is a good one. They are probably getting over crowded in the kennel (those little boogers grow fast). I'd watch her and make sure she is still caring for them and if she is they should be fine. She will keep them warm. I hope you get things figured out and peace is restored to your babies. And welcome to BYC!

 

[basement chick]

Try the website The Chicken Chick for advice too. I'm new to raising chicks so I don't know, but it does sound like they may be crowded.

 

[SoORchick73]

My first broody just turned a year and hatched 16 (!!) chicks. I have a flock of 25. I captured mama and babies right after hatching (she hatched them in the woods, I was not expecting this). I've always said when I had a hen go broody I wanted a flock raised batch of chicks. I gave 13 away when they were 6 days old..., I let her keep 3 and kept them in a 4'x4' hardware cloth enclosure in the main barn. She also was teaching them chicken behavior and making a HUGE mess of food/water. I would have let them out sooner for her to introduce to the flock if I hadn't been holding the other 13 for someone (didn't want too many changes at once). She's had them out and introduced to the others (outside foraging all day on our 3 acres...but doesn't go TOO far from the barn). No problems with rest of flock, and they all eat together, and NO issues! It's been a great experience. They have all been together since Memorial Day, and she brings them home into the barn at night.

 

[TXchickenchick]

One of the coolest things in the world is to see your low pecking order hen kick the top hen away from her babies. No momma hen worth having will let ANYONE peck and kill her chicks. My teeny tiny bantam (my only bantam) kept all my rather large full sized hens (and my cats) far away from her little ones.

 

[SoORchick73]

ps I thought my mama hen was crazy too until
I showed an experienced friend the video (she was scratching the ground to spread food so hard to teach them that she was launching some of the 16 chicks into the air LOL!) I think even a 4x4 cube wasn't enough space after 2 days...she was wanting to get to serious teaching and NONE of the crumble stayed in the dish. The water was filled with shavings etc. and I was changing the water 6-7x a day. I think I was losing MY mind. I should have let them out sooner.