Natural breeding thread

[Miriahbrown]

Nothing to worry about. The chicks stay under mother hen most of time on the first days. And if they start to walk around to eat and drink, they go back to mama as soon as the chicks feel they are getting cold.

Thank you!! This helps ease my mind so much..I kept waffling about bringing them all into the garage, but I'd rather they stay out with all the birds for a smoother and simpler integration

 

[hammyanne]

Another update on mama:

The babies have officially graduated to sleeping on the roost! Unfortunately I lost one chick to an aerial predator at around 3 weeks old.

Something I found interesting is that mama seemed to be confused by the chirps of the chicks I brooded indoors vs. her own. I introduced the indoor brood to my existing flock at about the same time my polish started bringing her babies out of the run. Whenever she heard the other chicks she would frantically run toward them and abandon her own babies before realizing she responded to the wrong calls.

I’m wondering if anyone has experienced this? I’m sure it’s fine, I just hate to cause unnecessary confusion and anxiety for a new mom!

 

[Altairsky]

For anyone remembering my post about a broody hen sitting on a bunch of eggs, who laid a shell less egg, broke it, and smeared the yolk all over the 5 day old eggs.
I just replaced the nest bedding and let her sit on the filthy eggs. Never tried to clean them at all.
Well, the hen cleaned the eggs probably by rubbing against the eggs while doing the routine egg turning. By the end of the incubation, they were mostly clean. All 8 eggs hatched with no problems.

 

[Altairsky]

Picture:

 

[BDutch]

Another update on mama:

The babies have officially graduated to sleeping on the roost! Unfortunately I lost one chick to an aerial predator at around 3 weeks old.

Something I found interesting is that mama seemed to be confused by the chirps of the chicks I brooded indoors vs. her own. I introduced the indoor brood to my existing flock at about the same time my polish started bringing her babies out of the run. Whenever she heard the other chicks she would frantically run toward them and abandon her own babies before realizing she responded to the wrong calls.

I’m wondering if anyone has experienced this? I’m sure it’s fine, I just hate to cause unnecessary confusion and anxiety for a new mom!

I dont have such an experience.

If no-one replies, it’s better to ask this in a new thread. A good title for it can do wonders!

 

[Virginiachickens]

 

[Skyeknight]

Yesterday I put 7 eggs underneath a broody silkie I have. Originally I tried to break her broodiness, but I changed my mind. She has been broody since 18 may, meaning it might be a rough go. She does take regular breaks eating and drinking. I put 3 of her own eggs underneath which are at least a week old. She will be first time mom and is 8 months old. When the chicks hatch I will be separating her from the flock as my coop is kinda a deathtrap for chicks that small.

From left to right: Ayam Cemani rooster who hopefully has done his job right, white BYM mother of 2 of the eggs, blue barred BYM mother of another 2 of the eggs and the broody silkie.

 

[fluffycrow]

Yesterday I put 7 eggs underneath a broody silkie I have. Originally I tried to break her broodiness, but I changed my mind. She has been broody since 18 may, meaning it might be a rough go. She does take regular breaks eating and drinking. I put 3 of her own eggs underneath which are at least a week old. She will be first time mom and is 8 months old. When the chicks hatch I will be separating her from the flock as my coop is kinda a deathtrap for chicks that small.

View attachment 4139956
From left to right: Ayam Cemani rooster who hopefully has done his job right, white BYM mother of 2 of the eggs, blue barred BYM mother of another 2 of the eggs and the broody silkie.

Best of luck to her!

Why do you say that about your setup?

 

[TexasBlues]

Here’s my broody hens raising some chicks:

 

[BDutch]

Here’s my broody hens raising some chicks:

This is different from the way my hens raised their chicks. I observed my hens searching tiny worms for the chicks and clucking to them to give to the chicks whatever good food she found for them.