Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Faraday40]

Has anyone had trouble with turkeys or roosters eating chicks?

My big clumsy hen has trouble hatching but is an OK mom once she has chicks. She spent 4 weeks on a fake egg in the coop and then easily adopted a few chicks that were incubator hatched.

I put the little family in a corner of the run using a baby gate like I have done several times before. My flock is used to having broody hens & chicks around.


To my horror a chick went missing and I found the rooster far away eating it. Both the rooster and 3 turkey poults were not around last year when we had all the chicks. It could have been curiosity and I'm not sure why the big hen didn't attack the culprit. I don't know if the rooster was the killer or just the winner of steal the treat. The turkeys like to peck at unknown things and they're getting big.

For the last week, I put the hen in a separate outdoor rabbit hutch with her remaining 3 chicks. I'd like to try the coop again. Any advice? The hen is big, so my wire rabbit cage is too small for my 10 lb hen to walk through the doorway.

 

[Molpet]

Has anyone had trouble with turkeys or roosters eating chicks?

My big clumsy hen has trouble hatching but is an OK mom once she has chicks. She spent 4 weeks on a fake egg in the coop and then easily adopted a few chicks that were incubator hatched.

I put the little family in a corner of the run using a baby gate like I have done several times before. My flock is used to having broody hens & chicks around.
View attachment 2239755

To my horror a chick went missing and I found the rooster far away eating it. Both the rooster and 3 turkey poults were not around last year when we had all the chicks. It could have been curiosity and I'm not sure why the big hen didn't attack the culprit. I don't know if the rooster was the killer or just the winner of steal the treat. The turkeys like to peck at unknown things and they're getting big.

For the last week, I put the hen in a separate outdoor rabbit hutch with her remaining 3 chicks. I'd like to try the coop again. Any advice? The hen is big, so my wire rabbit cage is too small for my 10 lb hen to walk through the doorway.

Mine will eat dead partially hatched chicks/poults. I have heard of turkeys eating bantum chicks like crickets

 

[Faraday40]

Mine will eat dead partially hatched chicks/poults. I have heard of turkeys eating bantum chicks like crickets

The chick was a day old silver laced orpington. (Yes, the ones I've been trying to breed/ hatch since March. We only hatched 4 and now down to 3.

Any advice on how to get the chicks accepted by poultry that has not been around chicks before?

What's odd is how the poults do not chase the rabbits, squirrels, and birds. We have so many rabbits in the backyard and they're not skittish as they should be. We can walk right up to them - about 5-6 ft. - before they move. I even tripped on one before. I saw the rabbits eating some of the chickens' scraps yesterday. A rabbit was nibbling right next to a large male poult.

DS runs at them and barks. I think they're more confused than scared.

 

[Molpet]

The chick was a day old silver laced orpington. (Yes, the ones I've been trying to breed/ hatch since March. We only hatched 4 and now down to 3.

Any advice on how to get the chicks accepted by poultry that has not been around chicks before?

What's odd is how the poults do not chase the rabbits, squirrels, and birds. We have so many rabbits in the backyard and they're not skittish as they should be. We can walk right up to them - about 5-6 ft. - before they move. I even tripped on one before. I saw the rabbits eating some of the chickens' scraps yesterday. A rabbit was nibbling right next to a large male poult.

DS runs at them and barks. I think they're more confused than scared.

The first poults were 12 weeks, I got them at around 8 wks and quarantine for 4. The momma hen kept them away from her chicks.
My turkeys pay no attention to rodents of any size I had hoped they would go after the tomato stealing Chipmunks. They even go in the coop to take feathers for their nests....squirrels run around in between birds.

 

[CindyinSD]

Has anyone had trouble with turkeys or roosters eating chicks?

My big clumsy hen has trouble hatching but is an OK mom once she has chicks. She spent 4 weeks on a fake egg in the coop and then easily adopted a few chicks that were incubator hatched.

I put the little family in a corner of the run using a baby gate like I have done several times before. My flock is used to having broody hens & chicks around.
View attachment 2239755

To my horror a chick went missing and I found the rooster far away eating it. Both the rooster and 3 turkey poults were not around last year when we had all the chicks. It could have been curiosity and I'm not sure why the big hen didn't attack the culprit. I don't know if the rooster was the killer or just the winner of steal the treat. The turkeys like to peck at unknown things and they're getting big.

For the last week, I put the hen in a separate outdoor rabbit hutch with her remaining 3 chicks. I'd like to try the coop again. Any advice? The hen is big, so my wire rabbit cage is too small for my 10 lb hen to walk through the doorway.

You might consider building a pen for them in that back area under the shelf. Be sure to give it a solid top. Chickenwire should do fine for the walls.

 

[FathertoFeathers]

Sorry if this question has been asked before but this thread has 2883 pages and I don’t want to read every single page. I’m trying to hatch some ducklings and I have a question about the very end. When the chicks hatch I would like to raise them inside. Would this cause any damage the babies or the mom? Will the mom get over it eventually or will she always hold a grudge?

 

[BullChick]

It depends on Mom. She might attack you, stay broody or mourn. While I wonder why you would want to raise them inside, it won’t hurt the babies.
I have had poultry mourn badly.

 

[FathertoFeathers]

It depends on Mom. She might attack you, stay broody or mourn. While I wonder why you would want to raise them inside, it won’t hurt the babies.
I have had poultry mourn badly.

I want the ducks to get used to me and be really comfortable with me. Do you think I could achieve that if I let her raise them outside? If she does mourn how long will it last?

 

[FathertoFeathers]

I want the ducks to get used to me and be really comfortable with me. Do you think I could achieve that if I let her raise them outside? If she does mourn how long will it last?

could I take like 2 or 3 and leave the rest? Would that make it easier on her?

 

[Faraday40]

could I take like 2 or 3 and leave the rest? Would that make it easier on her?

Yes, not removing all the babies would be easier on her.

I've not had problems with broody hens raising chicks & also having them bond to me. I just bring them inside for some cuddles & then return to mama. I also go out & sit with them - bringing treats. Mama teaches her babies to come running to me for treats.

If your mama is a wild child & runs away from you, this may not be the case.