Now I know why broody is BAD!

[chickenpiedpiper]

Oh, I dont blame her, and I dont want to seperate her either... I thought it would be great to have her raising the babies, BUT after watching a hen in the coop hover over mommy, and finding developed eggs on the floor after mommy left to drink, I know that that nasty spooky hen was attacking her eggs! (we call her the vulture)

I can just see that nasty black hen stalking and killing these innocent little soul stealing silkie chicks! great Mommy tho stevie may be, she is just one, and in a small coop with 20 other birds, its just not fair odds.

I think tho, that I may have a middle road that I can take, We are working on a space to put her cage, where she will be in the coop, but still safely in the cage.... I am hoping that this will get her and the little ones out into the coop, but safe.

The only thing I dont like about that is that I cant caress and fondle the babies! I prefer to raise just the babies, so they become lap chickens! We shall see, I may not have the strength of will to send any of them out.... sigh. But at least I do now understand, why mid winter broody is BAD.... Sheesh! never ever again.

 

[Msbear]

You have them for fun and whatever makes you happy is the best way

stink and all

edited to say: beautiful momma, btw

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

Quote:
Thank you! She is kind of a surprise to us. We got her from a breeder when she was less than a week old, and she and her sister kind of took over the mothering of the the 15 other day old chicks. No real personalitys. Then one day, she saw me come home from work, and when I walked in the door, she launched herself and flew across the room at me, to land in my hands! From that moment on, she insisted on a nightly private time on either My or Robs shoulder, nestling up until she fell asleep! Cutest thing ever.

She out grew it eventually, but still lets us scoop her, when she is not raising babies that is! really surprised us how quickly she decided she was a lap chicken!

 

[4 Love of Baby Chickens]

I always keep my chicks and their mamas in the coop with the flock. Whenever Pepper goes broody all the other chickens stays as far away from her as they can. Because Pepper is the top hen. I perfer to raise my babies with their mothers and in the flock.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

We left Mommy outside separated from the flock in the spring. It worked out well, considering she refused to leave at all and I'd have to throw her off the nest so she could get any food in her. She became a compulsive neat freak and would spend her days 1. moving individual pieces of straw anywhere to her liking, and 2. dust bathing in her free time.


I like it so much better than the idea of the bator. I find it so much easier, much more fun to watch, less of a chance of anything going wrong (if you have a trustworthy mom) and it's FREE!

 

[jjparke]

Gross. Chickens do not belong in the house.

 

[Msbear]

what about in bed with you

 

[TXmom]

I have one more suggestion...since it's so cold and you're worried about the other chickens in the coop...

I have a GREAT air purifier in the living room. Believe me...with my mini-zoo (dogs, cat, rats, gerbils, turtle, fish tank, and soon-to-be baby chicks), I don't think we could stand walking in the house if we didn't have this air purifier. I don't care how often you clean the cages, they can start to smell after a very short time. The air purifier keeps the air in the house fresh and clean...and it also has an ultraviolet light in it that kills bacteria, fungi, etc, for added protection for us and the pets.

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

Quote:
Well aren't you pleasant.

We seem to have come to a pretty good arrangement. I change the papers in the cage in the morning and theevening. She has minnimized the nasty broody hen poops, and the little chicky poos are not an issue. After each change, I put into the cage a fresh handful of timothy hay. Since they also have a heat light, that means the room smells like sun warmed hay. Not too bad.

Admittedly, the situation is not ideal, hence the name of the thread.... I just thought it would be a good shared experience for others to learn from, since I hadnt thought about the long term results of letting a mid winter broody keep her eggs... Now I know.

I do appreciate everyones constructive advise, and we will be moving the new family back out to the coop, when I feel they will be safe, until that time, I will deal with the newspapers and warm hay smell, and chalk it up to experiences best shared.