Sad saga here in Austin

[Bonniecnr]

So we have had 3 beautiful Buff Orphingtons for about a year and they have been happily laying eggs and getting along with our little dog and fitting into our family just perfectly. About three weeks ago one of the chickens went broody (is that the word?) I read about my options and decided to get some fertilized eggs for her. This past week only one hatched so it was recommended that I get a few new chicks (born on the same day as the hatched one) and put it under her as she slept. She took to them for three days and then started pecking at them, ultimately killing one. The one she hatched was also sickly and died today too. I have taken the other two away from her.

At the same time, yesterday at dusk before the chickens went up to roost, something got them and my other two are gone!

So now I have a house of grieving people, including me, a mama chicken who is sad and mad and confused and I am unclear on what to do with the baby chicks (get more? give these away? how will I reintroduce them) Is this mama hen gonna be ok without her friends?

Any thoughts?

 

[Junochick]

So we have had 3 beautiful Buff Orphingtons for about a year and they have been happily laying eggs and getting along with our little dog and fitting into our family just perfectly. About three weeks ago one of the chickens went broody (is that the word?) I read about my options and decided to get some fertilized eggs for her. This past week only one hatched so it was recommended that I get a few new chicks (born on the same day as the hatched one) and put it under her as she slept. She took to them for three days and then started pecking at them, ultimately killing one. The one she hatched was also sickly and died today too. I have taken the other two away from her.

At the same time, yesterday at dusk before the chickens went up to roost, something got them and my other two are gone!

So now I have a house of grieving people, including me, a mama chicken who is sad and mad and confused and I am unclear on what to do with the baby chicks (get more? give these away? how will I reintroduce them) Is this mama hen gonna be ok without her friends?

Any thoughts?

I just want to say I am sorry for your families loss.

 

[biophiliac]

I just want to say I am sorry for your families loss.

X2.

 

[TalkALittle]

Not every hen is cut out for motherhood. I'd rehome the chicks and get a pair of started pullets that have almost reached laying age and try and integrate them. The larger pullets will be able to stand up to your current hen better than chicks can.

 

[Outdoorlover]

So sorry for you!

 

[Bonniecnr]

Not every hen is cut out for motherhood. I'd rehome the chicks and get a pair of started pullets that have almost reached laying age and try and integrate them. The larger pullets will be able to stand up to your current hen better than chicks can.

Well now that is interesting. Are the pullets of an age that they can go right out into the yard and start eating feeder food? If so, how would you recommend I introduce them to the sad, mad and confused mama? Thanks so much for your help.

Bonnie

 

[TalkALittle]

Yes, you can get pullets that are at "point of lay". Depending on breed this age varies but around 5 months (20 weeks) is average.

Introduction really depends on the physical setup of your coop and run. Let them spend their days together free ranging and keep separate at night for a little while then help the newbies into the coop if they don't follow her in. Or I might let the newbies get acclimated to the coop while I kept the older hen in a broody buster cage if she is still broody. Once you've broken the broodiness then integrate them.

 

[texsuze]

If you decide to re-home your BO hen, would you mind sending me a PM? I'm in Fredericksburg, TX