New Mama & adopted chicks

[ChickenLady1313]

This is our 3 yr old Sussex Poppy and her adopted chicks. She had been broody for around 6 wks, gave her fertilised eggs but chicks sadly died on hatching, so we got her 3 x 2 day old chicks and she had really taken to motherhood! They were in with the rest of the flock (She's top bird and didn't want her to lose ranking), but she appeared very tired yesterday and neglecting herself. Today we put them in an area of the run, wire fenced so other girls can see, with their own little coop. She's perked up no end and showing the chicks how to dust bath. So proud of Mama Hen

 

[azygous]

It's is always a delight to see a hen raise chicks.

It's very unfortunate about all of the fertilized eggs not producing viable chicks. Aside from the tragic element, it does raise an alarming possibility that shouldn't be ignored - an avian virus in your flock.

Were these hatching eggs from an outside source or were they fertilized eggs from your own flock. If the latter, be aware that lymphoid leucosis is passed from the hen who carries the virus to the embryo in her eggs. Most of the time these chick embryos die before hatching, die upon hatching, or they die before one year of age.

If the fertilized eggs were from hens in your flock, this also has consequences for these new chicks.

 

[ChickenLady1313]

It's is always a delight to see a hen raise chicks.

It's very unfortunate about all of the fertilized eggs not producing viable chicks. Aside from the tragic element, it does raise an alarming possibility that shouldn't be ignored - an avian virus in your flock.

Were these hatching eggs from an outside source or were they fertilized eggs from your own flock. If the latter, be aware that lymphoid leucosis is passed from the hen who carries the virus to the embryo in her eggs. Most of the time these chick embryos die before hatching, die upon hatching, or they die before one year of age.

If the fertilized eggs were from hens in your flock, this also has consequences for these new chicks.

We sourced 3 fertilised eggs from a local farmer,one chick hatched then died,
the other hadn't fully hatched, the 3rd wasnt a viable egg. We've only had hens until this point so don't have our own fertilsed eggs. The 3 chicks are thriving in her care.

 

[azygous]

What a relief!!

Please do not get any more hatching eggs from that source. Such a high mortality rate is not any where near to being normal.

Enjoy your hen and babies with no worries.

 

[ChickenLady1313]

What a relief!!

Please do not get any more hatching eggs from that source. Such a high mortality rate is not any where near to being normal.

Enjoy your hen and babies with no worries.

As it turns out, one of our "pullets" is actually a cockerel so we should have our own fertilsed eggs going forward. Thank you for the advice