Touching a broody hens babbies!

[MonkeyZero]

Hey
My friend and I were arguing about this

IS it true that if you touch a mother hens chicks, she will kick them out of the nest.
I told her its not true, but she thinks it is

HELP?

 

[Cackling Hen]

Nope not true for me I touch grab move cuddle my broody hens chicks all the time

 

[Freebie]

I hold mine all the time too. Some people have broodies that can be pretty mean, and give you a hard time about picking them up. But mine is just a sweetie.

 

[that_crazy_lady]

that is some song birds, not chickens.

but some hens don't want you touching there babys and they let you know it

 

[baldie]

Not true. I hold them right after they are born to "check them" and make sure everything is where it should be. Then I hold each one every day so they are used to human contact. She has no problem with it either, but I did have one mama that didnt like it.

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
I want you to come to my house and try and take the chicks out from under my broody. I swear she drew blood once

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

No momma hen will not kick the babies out.



It is a myth that any bird will kick a baby bird out of the nest because it has been touched by a human.

 

[PortageGirl]

Total myth about any bird abandoning their young due to that. How else do scientists go to nests and weigh and measure the young, band them and put them back etc. Also, look here... http://www.allaboutbirds.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1098 a few questions down in the first section on 'baby birds'

Mamma hens are usually fine with it and it's good to get them all used to handling the chickies, at least a little.

 

[Crunchie]

You might lose a finger, but otherwise, knock yourself out.

 

[Matt A NC]

Definately not true. My girls are friendly, so they don't attack me either.

Matt