Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[laughingull]

Congrats to all that have new hatches- I cant wait to see the pics!!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Thanks Miss Lydia,
Next question.......they are in a nest box in the coop and not really blocked off as there is no room to do that and the nest box is only 12x12 with 2 hens sitting in there. How do I get the chick food and water to the babies without the other chickens eating the food?

well if you don't want the other chickens eating chick food [which is ok] then someone on here gave a suggestion for a plastic milk crate over top of the food and water for the chicks. i have done it and it works great. some will still stick their heads into it to get food but not as much, I have 6 Brahma hens that are so piggy that they were keeping mama and her chicks from getting to their feed. might give it a try.
My hen is still very wobbly on her legs, she is taking excellent care of her 2 chicks and doesn't act like she is in pain so we're just taking it a day at a time. She eats a little and drinks too, but I'd like to see her doing more of each. I scramble her an egg and take her yogurt but she usually lets her chicks eat most of it. you know it's all for the babies right now. My dh is away for 3 days and we are just hoping that by the time he gets back she'll be up walking around again. Her chicks will be 4 weeks old this coming weekend. Thanks for asking.

 

[laughingull]

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LOL! I will try that argument with my boyfriend but currently I am having a hard time convincing him that poor Miss Tiggywinkle needs any young. He deals with sick birds all day long at his job and is getting a bit warn out with chicken drama when he gets home... "but I thought you wanted to get out of town for vacation... what if the hen doesnt take care of the young and we are stuck with the job" Any thoughts- is that likely?

 

[laughingull]

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Ok- we will see if I can convince the fam of a few chicks and if so... tomorrow. Just wish the weather was a bit better for wee ones, dumping rain, though I guess I could keep them cozy in the rabbit hutch for the first day or two???

 

[laughingull]

Quote:
6 chickens- yikes that is a lot of bird! What do you all do with so many? Spose I could have a lot more if I started eating them... but with just three you get soooooooooo attached

 

[Chicklette 1]

Quote:
Thanks Miss Lydia,
Next question.......they are in a nest box in the coop and not really blocked off as there is no room to do that and the nest box is only 12x12 with 2 hens sitting in there. How do I get the chick food and water to the babies without the other chickens eating the food?

well if you don't want the other chickens eating chick food [which is ok] then someone on here gave a suggestion for a plastic milk crate over top of the food and water for the chicks. i have done it and it works great. some will still stick their heads into it to get food but not as much, I have 6 Brahma hens that are so piggy that they were keeping mama and her chicks from getting to their feed. might give it a try.
My hen is still very wobbly on her legs, she is taking excellent care of her 2 chicks and doesn't act like she is in pain so we're just taking it a day at a time. She eats a little and drinks too, but I'd like to see her doing more of each. I scramble her an egg and take her yogurt but she usually lets her chicks eat most of it. you know it's all for the babies right now. My dh is away for 3 days and we are just hoping that by the time he gets back she'll be up walking around again. Her chicks will be 4 weeks old this coming weekend. Thanks for asking.

It is OK then for laying hens to eat the chick food instead of laying pellets ? Mine is Medicated so I would have to get non medicated because of the eggs.

I am so happy that your girl is holding her own. Wonder what affected her?

 

[Miss Lydia]

You know its a mystery to me. She was doing fine for the first 2 weeks or looked like it anyway. Then last Monday my dh and I were putting together a covered area for their feed to stay dry when I noticed her wobbly. By the next day she could hardly stand up without tilting over. she is mostly game and they are nervous type birds anyway, so it's hard to get close but I was able to pick her up and she and chicks have been staying in a big old wooden box in my shed, I really don't think it's contagious her chicks and the rest of the flock are great. I am just wondering that she didn't eat right and was so busy making sure her chicks did if she didn't get somekind of vitamin imbalance. I have her on electrolytes and nutri drench. I let her out for a while this morning but it started to rain so they are back in their room now. Now that I have talked your ear off.

yes hens can eat chick feed, the mamas don't need it right now till they start to lay again but I always have oyster shell out for my hens anyway. But the ones that your getting eggs from to eat shouldn't have med. the chicks don't really need med. either since mama knows what they need to build up their immune systems.

 

[Miss Lydia]

laughingull, we eat our extra roos. but so far just keep the hens and collect the eggs for eating. and mama will take care of everything, your going to give the chicks to mama right after you get them? she'll keep them good and warm.

 

[stonykill]

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6 chickens- yikes that is a lot of bird! What do you all do with so many? Spose I could have a lot more if I started eating them... but with just three you get soooooooooo attached

6 is a lot?????? Our newest hatch brings us over 60 chickens

. I don't know an exact number because mama hasn't let me see her little ones yet. And we have 11 Pekin Ducks

 

[laughingull]

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Would it be ok to give the chicks to mama during the day? I see the reasoning for slipping them under her at night- but am a little concerned in this cold weather, would rather give them to her in the day so I can keep an eye on things at first. She is so determined to sit that I think I could slip an angry cat under her and she wouldn't complain. Much thanks for all your advice and really glad to hear your hen is feeling a bit better (was afraid to ask).