New Mama Hen

[MrsKelseyZ]

Hi there! My copper Maran is a new mama. She had three chicks. Day one was great all three were running around, eating and drinking. Mom seemed to really be attached was letting us know we needed to back off when we would check on them. Then first night one was dead in the morning. Looked like she was smothered. Day two both chicks were good mom was the same. Then night 4, I woke up to another chick looking smothered yet again. My kids and I are so sad! I feel like I should talk the last chick at night to be in the brooder but not sure if that’s a great idea for either of them. Does anyone have suggestions??

 

[CherishedFowlGuardian]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[CherishedFowlGuardian]

Hi there! My copper Maran is a new mama. She had three chicks. Day one was great all three were running around, eating and drinking. Mom seemed to really be attached was letting us know we needed to back off when we would check on them. Then first night one was dead in the morning. Looked like she was smothered. Day two both chicks were good mom was the same. Then night 4, I woke up to another chick looking smothered yet again. My kids and I are so sad! I feel like I should talk the last chick at night to be in the brooder but not sure if that’s a great idea for either of them. Does anyone have suggestions??

i would recommend you posting in emergency thread so that others know you need help and so that it does not get jumbled with welcomes.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Is this a first time brooder? What breed is she? How do you know they were smothered? I'm a little concerned that it's the brooder who's at fault here. She sounds like she's doing ok in the mothering department, but she might be stepping on the chicks or accidentally sleeping on top of them. (By that I mean, her legs or feet are on them, not how she's supposed to sleep on them.)

On the remaining chick, it might be a good idea to remove it, but it also might not. Chicks need other chicks to interact with, and at this point, its only option for interaction is with its mother. That being said, its mother is better than being alone. (I've had a broody raise one chick before.) But then again, if it's the broody who is at fault here, then keeping them together could be bad too.

Now, some people keep their broodies with their flock. Is there any way any of the other chickens are able to get to the chicks? Can any other animals get to them? Has any of these chicks shown any symptoms of illness? How healthy is the hen?

 

[MrsKelseyZ]

i would recommend you posting in emergency thread so that others know you need help and so that it does not get jumbled with welcomes.

Ok thank you!

 

[MrsKelseyZ]

Is this a first time brooder? What breed is she? How do you know they were smothered? I'm a little concerned that it's the brooder who's at fault here. She sounds like she's doing ok in the mothering department, but she might be stepping on the chicks or accidentally sleeping on top of them. (By that I mean, her legs or feet are on them, not how she's supposed to sleep on them.)

On the remaining chick, it might be a good idea to remove it, but it also might not. Chicks need other chicks to interact with, and at this point, its only option for interaction is with its mother. That being said, its mother is better than being alone. (I've had a broody raise one chick before.) But then again, if it's the broody who is at fault here, then keeping them together could be bad too.

Now, some people keep their broodies with their flock. Is there any way any of the other chickens are able to get to the chicks? Can any other animals get to them? Has any of these chicks shown any symptoms of illness? How healthy is the hen?

Yess! This is her first time. I am just guessing because both chicks were pretty flat in the corner of the nesting box Like they got squished. Mom seems healthy and eating having water etc. I just don’t want the poor thing to come to the same fate!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Yess! This is her first time. I am just guessing because both chicks were pretty flat in the corner of the nesting box Like they got squished. Mom seems healthy and eating having water etc. I just don’t want the poor thing to come to the same fate!

How's the chick and broody doing now? Have you separated or anything at all?

 

[MrsKelseyZ]

How's the chick and broody doing now? Have you separated or anything at all?

Thanks for asking! We ended separating our chicky girl and at first mom was a little bit distraught but within maybe an hour she was roaming with her sisters. I got 3 more chicks so baby girl isn’t alone (my husband loved that ) last night she was back ti roosting and the babies are doing well! I’m sad I cousin keep them all together but that’s just how it goes sometimes!

 

[McChooky]

My hen hatched 1 Thursday and the rest Friday and I knew she would come off the nest Saturday when no more chicks hatched. (I hatched the last viable egg in the incubator for her and gave her the chick) scattered shavings all over the floor(I use the deep litter method) so it would be ready when she came off.Unfortunately the chicks weren't following her lead and she was getting increasingly stressed so I got them all out and put them on the floor.THe nest was plenty big enough for her but she couldn't spread her wings because the sides were too narrow.Next time I'll give her a bigger tote when she goes broody. When I introduced the rooster to the chicks and broody Sunday he made her a nest in the floor when he was in there