New chickies under the broodies !

[Hunkiedorie]

I have half a doz eggs in an incubator but as I had a couple of broodies I gave them two each...when I went down to lift them for food, water and a clean of the hut there were two fluffy balls - one under each. Now I was prepared with heat lamp and safe place for incubated tweeps but shall I just leave the 'natural' ones with their mums.......what to do ??!!

 

[Sazbaby]

Keep your life simple... let the hens raise 'em!!

We've had good luck putting chicks 1-3 days old under a broody hen at night and having her do all the hard work! I'd say if you hatch some out in the 'bator tonight or tomorrow, stash them under the hens too, and save yourself the trouble!

 

[Hunkiedorie]

The cockerel and the other hen won't be nasty will they ?? Notice - two broodies and one 'normal'......have put a wee dish of chick feed near them but will they take them out of the hut for water or shall I put a dish inside the hut ? Sorry to be such a pain.....everything is poised for incubated but could not bear to take away the fluff balls from the broodies

 

[gryeyes]

I like to support my broody moms with shallow dishes of chick feed and water very close to her, within a couple of feet or as close as six inches, depending on the size of the enclosure where she's brooded/hatched the babies. A regular chick water is fine; with momma right there, there is little chance a chick will drown in the water dish.

I have a whole slew of chicks all over ny chicken yard right now,with fussy moms escorting them and training them, clucking and puffed up, wings held out and tail feathers spread to warn other chickens away from their broods.

Babies and mommas are safe in my flock, so I no longer worry about roosters or other hens harming them. Those momma hens are very fierce and protective, as is the dominant rooster.

Good luck with your - there is nothing quite as adorable as momma hens with new chicks!

We WILL want pictures, you know....

 

[Sazbaby]

I agree, mama hen should watch out for the babies well on her own- you might want to watch for the first couple of days to make sure she's going to be a good mommy, but then they should be fine with the other hens as long as mama knows her role!

 

[Hunkiedorie]

First, thank you all for the support which I sorely needed - have left the chickies under the foster mums and if any cracking occurs in the 'bator will put burgeoning egg under their nice warm bellies ! There would appear to be attempts at poaching (no pun intended) both eggs and chicks between the proud mums but no attempt to leave the nests - should I lift out the fluff balls and put them beside the food/water ? Should I have bought medicated chick feed (got Garvo)....have read about not letting them wander on ground where other birds have been? It's not easy this having babies

 

[Judy]

The mama will take care of taking the chicks to food and water. She may want them to stay under her for a day or so first, which is fine as they can live on their yolk for a while. You are much less likely to have cocci problems with broody raised chicks, as they get some of mama's immunity (from eating a bit of her poop.) I'd just feed them what I bought. Broody raised chicks also are less likely to have poopy butt problems.

I've had broodies raise several batches in with the flock now. One advantage is, when mama decides she no longer wants to be a mama, the chicks and full size chickens are used to each other and have learned how to deal with the pecking order, so even though the chicks are not full size, they do fine in with the flock. Not sure what not letting them wander where other birds have been, unless it was in the course of dealing with an illness. Mine certainly all share the same space, though it is a large coop and large chicken yard (about 70' x 70' for about 20 chickens.)

Relax and enjoy. Chances are, they will all do just fine.

 

[Hunkiedorie]

Chicks eating and drinking just as the mums have shown them....there seems to be a friendly agreement between Freeman and Hardy to share 'baby-sitting'. One tiddler couldn't manage the jump into the nestbox so one mother got behind and 'headed' it in....a perfect goal !

 

[The Yakima Kid]

Quote:
You might need to separate the two hens from each other; chicks can be killed or lost if hens try and poach from each other.

I prefer medicated chick feed; I like either Purina or Manna-Pro. Other people have equally valid preferences depending on regional manufacturers.

 

[Hunkiedorie]

Hopefully this is a piccie of Hardy showing new chickies how to eat.