I have one hen that is a very good broody, and a very good mama.....for a while. She always seems to leave her chicks when they are about 3 weeks old. She doesn't show them how to roost or anything. She goes on the roost, and if they don't or can't follow, oh well, she doesn't care.
Her babies are all cuddled up in the nest they have been using. I am not sure what to do. Tomorrow, mama will take right back up with her chicks, if I leave them out there, but right now the only thing keeping them warm is themselves. Only thing keeping them safe is grace of God. We don't have many predator problems, but I'm sure there are rats in the barn where they are.
I would really rather not brood the chicks myself, since I know mama will take care of the babies for a few more weeks.
I'm not too worried about them getting cold, after all they are bantams, so they have quite a bit of their feathers by now.
So should I put the chicks up on the roost with their mama? I have done this before with other hens that at least had enough sense to get most of their babies up there, but have never tried this with this particular hen.
It is very possible for the chicks to roost on their own, the mama hen just doesn't show them how. She was a 'bator baby' herself, so I guess she doesn't know she is supposed to do that part
Her babies are all cuddled up in the nest they have been using. I am not sure what to do. Tomorrow, mama will take right back up with her chicks, if I leave them out there, but right now the only thing keeping them warm is themselves. Only thing keeping them safe is grace of God. We don't have many predator problems, but I'm sure there are rats in the barn where they are.
I would really rather not brood the chicks myself, since I know mama will take care of the babies for a few more weeks.
I'm not too worried about them getting cold, after all they are bantams, so they have quite a bit of their feathers by now.
So should I put the chicks up on the roost with their mama? I have done this before with other hens that at least had enough sense to get most of their babies up there, but have never tried this with this particular hen.
It is very possible for the chicks to roost on their own, the mama hen just doesn't show them how. She was a 'bator baby' herself, so I guess she doesn't know she is supposed to do that part
