citychicks99
Songster
I had two broody hens with a staggered hatch. Four of them hatched two days ago but the hens continued to sit in the nest so I separated one hen with the chicks in another pet carrier. I left everything open today but the hen went back into the nest box and abandoned the chicks! Did I do the right thing? Do I have to raise the chicks myself now? I was afraid they would get squished. When the hen came back she was frantically kicking the nest I think looking for the eggs and I think it was scaring the chicks. I brought them inside because I didn't know what to do. Should I try and have her raise them and move her back inside with them tonight?
Edit: I took one of the broody hens inside with the chicks. She seemed to calm down when she wasn't around her sister and the eggs. I have some blankets over the carrier to make them think it's night time. I'll remove it in an hour to make them think they woke up together again. It looks like I'll have to keep them separated from the other hen for a couple of days. It's weird the chicks didn't follow her when she came out of the carrier.
Edit: I took one of the broody hens inside with the chicks. She seemed to calm down when she wasn't around her sister and the eggs. I have some blankets over the carrier to make them think it's night time. I'll remove it in an hour to make them think they woke up together again. It looks like I'll have to keep them separated from the other hen for a couple of days. It's weird the chicks didn't follow her when she came out of the carrier.
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