Newly hatched chicks...

[atira]

Help! Hens have been broody and now the chicks are hatching...so what do I do now? Do I try to feed them and water them or do I let the hens take over raising them? Please help now...have 4 chicks already out and around 8 more to go.

 

[sourland]

Let the hens do their job. They have been raising chicks successfully since the inception of the breed.

 

[3riverschick]

sourland is right. This was my first year letting a hen sit, hatch ,and raise her own chicks. My Light Sussex hen went broody the 1st week of Feb. In the coldest of winter. She sat her nest and the chicks were hatched Feb. 23rd. It was so cold. I asked the same questions you did. Kept thinking I would find dead chicks every morning. She did a fine job out in the coop. I only had the 60 bulb in the to prevent combs from freezing. Being a former dog breeder, I was used to being needed and always checking on the babies. Not so here. She simply didn't need me other than to provide feed and water. She also didn't let me near her chicks. No handling these babies! She was busy raising them and teaching them so many things. It was so much fun to watch.
2 weeks ago, she decided they were capable and started laying again. The only thing I did extra for her and the chicks was put Poultry
Nutri-Drench http://www.bovidr.com/poultry.html in their water for the first 6 weeks. It's a top notch nutritional supplement and helps grow robust chicks. I figured it was a good idea because of the cold. I have a heater base under the water. I still put PND in their water for all my chicks for 1st 6 weeks. I really like the way it is made and gives extra nutrition to the chicks. I fed my hen medicated Purina Start and Grow just like the chicks and she did just fine on it.
Best,
Karen

 

[atira]

I had to add a third nesting box and separated the chicks from the eggs...with all five of my girls having gone broody and sharing the two boxes bothered me. Besides the fact that the 2 boxes were also around 18" off of the floor so the new box is on the floor...2 hens sharing mommy-hood. I introduced them to water and feed...they took to it like a duck to water...lol Will be getting chicks for the next couple of days barring any problems since they were layed different days over a 2 week period...I have the date layed on each egg to keep track of them. I right now have 6 chicks and waiting on the rest. Thanks for the advices...My heart said to let mother nature take her course and let the hens do what they have been doing without our intervention...

 

[sourland]

There is a strong possibility that both mothers will leave the eggs within 36 hours of the chicks hatching. Do you hve any way of incubating eggs that may be left. This can be a major problem with staggered hatches.