Secret hiding place (picture heavy)

[leshaker]

Wow everyone here is so helpful and awesome. I love Chicken people!

 

[tdgill]

Quote:
I am confused... is this for the hen that layed in the loft? of jrleaders or another similar situation? lol. sorry. Either way it sounds like good news! Happy for you

 

[Kev]

If someone gets shipped chicks or chicks from feed store, have them in a brooder FIRST. Get them eating and drinking. This is important as they have already went through at least one or two days without food/water. Many are dehydrated to varying degrees before arrival. So I cannot stress this too much.

With these and ANY chicks, even if healthy, home hatched, whatever..... the best time is to wait until after dark. Take out the chicks and let them "cool off"(not cold.. room temp will work great) so they will be at the point they will actively seek warmth(not necessary but can make it easier to convince a chick to snuggle and stay under a hen instead of getting frightened and running off). Turning off the brooder light will also great. When they are huddled or staying put because of the dark, this is a good time to introduce them to hen.

Quietly and calmly stick the chicks under the hen. Usually it is easier to push them in behind her, under the tail or between body and wing. Some hens react badly to seeing something reaching under in front of her.. but if she will accept this, great.

If the hen becomes agitated, stop.. or you know she will become "warrior queen" or "screaming banshee".. just take out one chick and tuck it under as calmly quietly as possible.. let her get over the war mode and kick into mother hen mode, often those become much more accepting and start to talk in mother hen language as more chicks are introduced under her. Usally a few minutes or a hour with the first chick is all it takes to change her attitude. With calm hens, it is possible to put all chicks under her at once.

Just after dark is best, so both the mother and chicks will have the whole night to get used to each other and bond. The hen will start to become pretty noisy, clucking and talking.. This overnight bonding also will work as a signal for her to proceed to mother hood, because she did not have this period of hearing and talking to the chicks still inside the eggs before they hatch(eggs become noisy for a day or 2 before hatching).

Trying this with chicks 3 days or older during day time can be hard, especially if the chick is terrified of the hen and the hen is "suspicious"- another reason for doing introductions after dark!

Be very gentle with the hen and chicks in the morning.. if possible, just set food and water very close so she can start to instinctively do the food call.. chicks are VERY attracted to food calls and it also works as a very strong bonding signal.. if she does a lot of food calling, the chicks will bond to her extremely rapidly even if they did not have a mother for their first few days.

Move to a pen where the chicks cannot get out of, in case one or two chicks still get nervous about the hen. If one gets nervous, leave it in there... chances are it will become attracted to the food calling and decide better to brave the hen for warmth than not being very warm..

 

[tdgill]

very cool post...

 

[momiphouph]

Great info!!

 

[jrleader99]

Chickiekeeta - thank you very very much.

I just sent you a PM and will contact you later this morning.

I am going to try to get 6 RIR chicks from Chickiekeeta today.

Kev - thanks for the great information. I will take it and use it, hopefully, tonight/today with the introduction of babies and momma.

I love this place.

There is so much information and sharing. It truly is a community when we each help each other out whether it is through information, encouragement, instruction, financially or physically.

Thanks again. I will let everyone know how things go with these new babies and the outcome of the introduction to momma. Maybe a few picture too!!!!

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

I can't wait to see those pictures!!

 

[kwinans27]

OMG!!! That is too funny. She is so cute with all her eggs, she dosen't want anybody to eat them....hahahaha. I would leave her and just watch her and try and figure out something so her chicks won't fall if she hatches them, let's hope she does. Keep us posted.

1 husband, 2 kids, 3 chickens, 1 potbelly, 1 duck, 5 dogs, 2 cats & 1 hamster!

 

[chicks4kids]

 

[tdgill]

thanks for clearing that up for me! so happy for you!!! way to step up fellow NJ!