Oops! New babies from our rooster daddy....

[CPT]

I was working down on the farm, when I realized that one of our hens (who I haven't seen in weeks) just hatched some eggs somewhere on the property.....so far, I see two baby chicks, and they are walking around, perhaps a couple of days old. The daddy is our rooster! (whoops!) The mama (one of Plymouth Rock hens) is sitting on them keeping them warm. She is sitting in our yard right now. I'm guessing that the nest is somewhere under one of our large bushes/trees. They're pretty much on their own. Gave the mama some 20% lay pellets. What does one do? Let nature take its course, I guess.....??

Thanks~~

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

If possible moving hen and chicks to a safe enclosure where they are protected from predators would be best. Ranging during the day is one thing, but at night they are on the ground rather than roosted(due to age) and that is added vulnerability. Also, layer is not a good diet for the chicks and the hen will not be laying while broodfing them, so starter or grower would be a better feed choice.

 

[CPT]

Well, don't know if I can do that. I had 10 hens at one time, but now I'm down to 8. So now, I just saw this hen that has been missing for weeks. Apparently, my rooster got her knocked up and she has eggs laying around the property somewhere. The rest of my flock (and the culprit, the daddy rooster) all go in the coop at night. For now, I'll just let this hen do her thing. I found some chick starter and will just leave that out in the yard on a dish and they'll figure it out. We have this pretty large deep rooted bush, so I think that's where the nest is. It's pretty secure under there.