need chick advice-mom hen separation

[RRTXCHICKS]

hello all...need advice please. We have a timid hen who seems to be lowest in pecking order out of 11 hens total + 1 rooster. We have been trying to grab all eggs everyday so no chicks. This girl likes to lay in weird places and has been laying in our broke down smart car. Well we missed, at least one, and found a chick today. Do we take chick from her and raise inside? If so, do we grab it now? We r terrified the others will hurt it or a snake gets it, etc. We lock up car every night. Please help!

 

[Lobo123]

Personally, I would let the mother raise the chick. Just because a hen is low in the pecking order doesn't mean they are bad mothers. At the end of the day, it's your call.

If you do raise the chick, you might want to consider getting another one. Its recommended for a chick to be raised with at least one other chick. It helps them develop social skills which I think are important. Loner chicks don't usually do well when integrated with a flock.

If you do decide to leave the chick with its mother, she'll need some assistance. I don't know the setup you have or what predators you might have but that's something to consider. I've seen mama hens gear their chicks towards safety and kill small garden snakes. If your run is secure I wouldn't worry too much about predators. Space is really important, make sure there is enough and more if possible. Multiple water trays and feeders could be used to make sure the chick and mama are getting feed. I like to feel their crop to make sure. If mama hen and her chick are getting bullied, I would just put them in a separate enclosure if possible.

I think the choice you make really depends on how good of a mother the hen is, your setup, and your ability to provide for this chick. Perhaps you could let the mother take care of the chick for a few days, maybe a week, and make your choice from there.

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

I would let mamma have her baby. She will keep the chick safe. That's what mammas do

 

[Justso]

She'll do a better job of integrating into the flock than the chick being on its own. Hey, I'm in the same situation right now! I've kept them together, it's working out ok.

 

[RRTXCHICKS]

Thank you. I think she'll be a good mama, I'm worried about the other hens hurting it since mama is last on pecking order. Ill let nature take its course, tho. Appreciate the help.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Thank you. I think she'll be a good mama, I'm worried about the other hens hurting it since mama is last on pecking order. Ill let nature take its course, tho. Appreciate the help.

Mama hen will do a fine job. Nothing beats the mother hen hormones, not even being low on the pecking order! And I think it’s probably too late to get another chick for it, but when raised by mama they have better social skills anyways so it’s not totally alone. It’s different if the chick was raised inside alone.