taking chicks from mama.. advice please..

[birdbrain5]

i have a hen that hatched 3 chicks, and i really dont have a great set up for a broody with chicks right now. one drown and died

and now i know i need to do something here, i want to take the chicks and put them in with my newest hatched chicks, all same size and age approx. because i feel they will be safer. i feel bad to take them away but i think its the best/easiest solution here. any reason why i shouldnt? will my hen go broody right away again? how long til she will lay again?

 

[dela1991]

I am going to keep my eye on this one. My broody hatched out 5 chicks. They range in age from 6 to 10 days old now. I have the whole crowd in my shed but I would like to put mama back in the coop. I am trying to find homes for the chicks.

 

[Kat's Silly Chickens]

It won't hurt to take the chicks from the hen for their safety. I had to put my hens chicks in a temp brooder for a few days, 1 of them got cold (nearly died) when the hen left the nest cage to get exercise. After a week I put 2 of them back in with the hen and she started taking care of them.

 

[TeamChaos]

I've been playing baby swap all week at the farm and honestly, none of the mamas I've taken babies from have seemed the least bit upset by it.

 

[hippiehen]

Quote:
Yup. In fact, one of my hens "flew the coop" and left her half feathered babies for another hen to look after.

 

[cmitchell]

I was wondering the same thing. My momma has 2 chicks that are 2 & 3 days old. She is still setting on eggs that I'm not sure will hatch. I've had to put little bowls of food/water in the nest box so the chicks can eat and drink. They are all living temporarily in a lrg dog crate in which I put an old rabbit nest box w/pine shavings for her to hatch her eggs.

Today I saw her dust bathing in the shavings. I'm afraid she might hurt the chicks in her efforts. Has anyone else had mommas that try to bath in their nests?

My DH was thinking we should take the chicks away to a brooder box before they get hurt.

What do you think?

 

[Erica]

Hi cmitchell, as long as the babies have room to get away while the mother is dust bathing they should be fine. Chicks can survive the odd bump and jostle.