Please, help me... trying get broody hen to adopt chicks

[Sarah_2017]

Anyway, this evening we had some storms in our area and I wanted to wait until things passed.
I'm trying to get the courage to try again. I had to reread all of everyone's wonderful words of wisdom.
My mind keeps going back and forth- thinking about waiting until Sunday night when my mom's back in town and could assist me; or, just doing it. I really just need to transfer the chicks.

If anyone's out there and awake, could you just tell me to do it.
Like several of you said, signs are good that this should work out... but, my mind keeps going to what ifs.
Wow, finals in college and singing juries (graded music performances) for music professors were easier that this...

Sorry for sounding wimpy. Lol, sigh.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Hi, all.
I will try again tonight; although, I'm absolutely worried sick.
I'm terrified of having dead chicks.
To clarify, Buff did actually peck the chick directly and the chick shrieked, and ran away. Buff also pecked my hand. This chick is an egyptian fayoumi which looks dramatically different from her. But, that shouldn't make a difference from what I've read.
So, a lot of you are saying to place all 9 of the chicks under her at once, correct?
Then, if Buff and chicks are peeping/talking softly, then I'm okay?
How long should I listen and wait before leaving Buff alone with the chicks?

Gosh, I hope this works.

A white hen may kill a white chick or a black hen may kill a black chick. If the chicks are partridge colored then anything goes. Chickens don't have long memories so by all means give a setting hen chicks after dark and maybe by morning she will have forgot about you grafting chicks onto her and instinct will take over.

 

[Bluechick2u]

I put chicks I hatched under a viscious broody, she pecked at my hand very hard and at the chick when it was in front of her, but once the chick dove under her she started clucking to it. I think she was just startled at being invaded. I subsequently added 9 more chicks, all went well.

 

[andreanar]

Did you do it??

 

[Sarah_2017]

Sorry, for leaving y'all in suspense.

No, I did not make the switch last night.
I stayed up waiting for the rain/lighting to stop and then fell asleep as it was late and had an anxious day. SEE LIST below for My Game Plan.

((((Buff did accidentally poop in her nest box, but, it is a slightly larger nest space than in the coop and she did 'go' on the empty side and not on her eggs or on herself. While sitting on her eggs, she did let me reach in with a glove and clean it up without any pecking or getting loud. Being quiet and not pecking is normal behavior for her when she's broody and I'm taking the eggs away on a daily basis when she has been in the coop with the other hens. So, I'm going to take that as being new and learning the mom ropes (she does have space on the opposite side of her cage to 'go' in, as well.) I was also just happy to see her 'go' because that means she's eaten.
After that, I put our sheltie inside, and then open the door to her cage and the shred to give her the opportunity to walk around. She makes this loud like warning sound when she walks around in the yard, even when separated from the other hens, she can see and hear them, so, I guess she's just reminding the hens to keep their distance anyway.
When I worried she was getting far from the garden shed, I picked her up and set her down in front of her open broody nest door and she walked in. She walked carefully over her eggs then to the other side of the cage and then back to the nest.
She started to gently roll the eggs back under her, and
settled down back into her broody state.))))

Sorry for rambling on...

ANYWAY, THE PLAN:
*Tonight's 'Go TIME' is 10:30pm EST.
*Today's weather has been gorgeous and calm.
*Doing one more bum check on all chicks in a few minutes.
*Here it get's really dark at 9:30, so, by 10:30 Buff should be really sleepy and content.
*I'm going to place all the chicks into a deep bucket (that they can't even think about hopping out of), grab my phone and flashlight, and do the switch.
1.) Let the chicks peep for a second once we enter the shed, and maybe hear happy Buffy 'mommy sounds'.
2.) Open her cage and using my right hand and going in from Buff's rear direction, cradle one chick under her and keep my hand over the chick. Remove all 8 eggs with my left hand. Then, wait for Buff to sit down and get 'comfy' over my right hand with the chick.
3.) Once step 2 is successful, then place the other 8 chicks quickly. Keep listening for 'quiet happy momma hen and baby chick sounds'.
4.) Replace cardboard backing over cage opening.
5.) Double check that I can't see any chicks (assuring that they're all under her).
6.) Close the cage door, pick up bucket of eggs, and close the shed door.
7.) Jump for joyonce in the house.

8.) I MAY go back in 30 minutes to gently open the shed door and listen for peace and quiet and/or 'happy mommy & baby' sounds.

9.) Check again in the morning at 6am when it's just starting to be a light black in the sky.

That's my plan. Hopefully, I can recognize 'happy mom and chick sounds' when I hear them (I've watched several youtube videos on the subject).
Obviously, if I hear anything aggressive, then I will respond accordingly.

 

[JaeG]

Good luck! Fingers crossed it all goes to plan!

 

[Sarah_2017]

I think it worked!
Brb, I have to call my mom to give her a play by play.

Are happy momma hen sounds similar to a cooing sound?

 

[JaeG]

I think it worked!
Brb, I have to call my mom to give her a play by play.

Are happy momma hen sounds similar to a cooing sound?

Yes, that sounds like the sound she should be making. Soft little clucks to her babies. YAY!

 

[Junochick]

I think it worked!
Brb, I have to call my mom to give her a play by play.

Are happy momma hen sounds similar to a cooing sound?

Congratulations it sounds like it worked, give us an update tomorrow.

 

[Sarah_2017]

To elaborate, Buffy was, to my perception, calm during the whole switch.
The chicks were startled from being placed in the bucket and were still peeping a little loudly when I opened the shed. (One chick was clearly freaked and was giving sharp very scared peeps.). Within a second, I felt like Buffy was making this lower cooing-like type sound (that's my description of it anyway). From the little light I used, I didn't see any feathers raised on her neck in aggression to me or the chicks. And no attempted pecks. I was careful to always work behind her in placing the chicks.
I placed the first chick under her and between her legs. Buff seemed to be moving her feet in a gentle way, which I took as she was trying to make room for the chick and my hand amongst the 8 eggs under her. Then, I quickly removed the seven eggs I could reach easily while holding the little chick under her. Grabbed another chick and retrieved the last egg. Then added the last chicks by 2's and finally placed the 9th chick. In general, the chicks pretty much quieted down as soon as I placed them in between her legs. They didn't seem to want to run out. (But, it did seem to start getting slightly crowded as I added the last several chicks. Cute little guys.)

As I closed the door, I only heard an occasional peep that seemed similar to the sound chicks make when they're sleeping and/or very relaxed in the brooder. Buff did not move once all the chicks were placed. Quickly after closing the cage, I focused my dim reading light through the top of the cage to see and I couldn't see any chicks and Buffy seemed settle and quiet. Not agitated at all, imo.
This all leads me to believe that it is a successful transfer. Buff had the same quiet demeanor that she does when I'm collecting eggs and checking underneath her at night... she basically would let me pick/lift up half of her body without fuss.


Thanks to everyone who spent the time typing their experiences and words of encouragement.
We'll see in the morning, if everything continues like it should.

Looking forward to getting pictures and posting them here in the morning!