So I just put three day olds under a broody....

[yotetrapper]

I've never done this before, never even had a broody hatch out eggs... but today I put three EE chicks that hatched last night under a broody wyandottte that didnt have no eggs. I hope she accepts them. I guess I'll go out here after a bit and make sure none got kicked out from under her. I'm nervous LOL.

 

[Judy]

Here's hoping she's a good Mama.

Let us know!

 

[cackle]

how did it go?

 

[yotetrapper]

Horrible. When I put them under her she seemed to accept them so I came back inside. I went out an hour later and found one dead chick, one ice cold chick kicked out, and one under the hen. When I pulled the one out from under her and set it in front of her, she viciously attacked it! I brought the 2 back in, and the ice cold one recovered. Wont try THAT again.

 

[RubberChickenLubber]

I haven't done this, but from what I gather it's kinda hit and miss. One question though. How long was she broody. If it was a week or so, she may not have been ready for chicks.

 

[yotetrapper]

Yes it was only a week or so. Wish I knew how to break her.

 

[RubberChickenLubber]

If you decide to try that again with a broody, wait at least 2 1/2 weeks. I may be wrong, but I imagine she knew she hadn't been sitting long enough to have chicks.

 

[walkswithdog]

She wasn't broody long enough. It can take a couple of weeks for the proper hormones to actually get rolling. Sometimes more. I don't usually try to place chicks until a due date or after.

If she's a first time momma she also would have beginners trouble with chicks.

I never put fewer than six under a first time broody turkey and never less than four under a first time chicken hen.

They make mistakes, they fail to recognize them as something needing care, they step on them, they squish them. It happens with first time broodies.

Give her more time and offer her babies again. Try for younger ones, week olds can be restless and hungry and scoot out from under before she's accepted them completely. Day olds huddle and are more still and stay hidden, helping with acceptance. Week olds are hungry and thirsty and restless.

 

[yotetrapper]

They were day olds. Guess she wasn't broody long enough. Lesson learned.