Two baby chicks hatched, wrong mom on eggs...

[Muthaofchickens]

Hello not sure what to do here. Had one of our broody hens laying on a batch of eggs her name is Helga. Somewhere along the line Helga got up and an older non broody hen got on the eggs her name is Benny. Helga was raised by a broody hen on our farm and Benny was bought from tractor supply. Anywho the eggs started hatching yesterday under Benny only two so far. Benny is still laying on the eggs and the chicks have been hanging out in the box with her, I put some water and chick starter in the box for them. I'm just not sure what to do because I don't know if Benny can take care of them the way Helga does being that Benny has never had chicks of her own whereas Helga has and was raised by an amazing hen. I know the chicks have imprinted on Benny but should I move them to the box that Helga has moved to? I really don't want to break them up I'm just worried she's not going to care for them properly. Usually the chicks have all hatched within 24 hours and they're already out and about all over the yard following mama around but it's almost been 48 hrs and only two chicks have hatched and Benny isn't getting up and showing them around .. any help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!
-Mikala

 

[The Happster]

Is Benny actually broody? Or was she just laying an egg at a bad time?? If she's broody then I would leave them with her.
It's instinctive and she will probably know what to do. Especially if they're imprinted.
She will get up soon. If the chicks can hobble around I would even encourage her to. Or at least put something to eat and drink there so she can teach them. She seems to be doing a good job so far.
Helga got off. So maybe it wasn't right for her to hatch.

 

[Muthaofchickens]

No Benny is not broody like I said I got her from tractor supply and she's an old hen about 6 yrs old. She's never hatched her own chicks. Helga on the other hand was raised by the best broody hen I've ever had and has had 3 batches of her own chicks. I put food and water in there like I said and they have been eating and drinking.

 

[The Happster]

Why is Benny even still sitting? I would be worried about her pecking them. Surely she can hear them cheeping??
If Helga sits again, I'd either try her or bring out the brooder.
My best broody hen wasn't raised by a broody hen. On the other hand, three of my five broody hens can't be trusted, yet they were hatched via broody. It might make a bit of difference, but I really don't believe it makes much. IMO it's more breed and personality.

 

[Muthaofchickens]

Benny is still sitting because there's a butt load of eggs that haven't hatched. And she has been sweet to the chicks cleaning them and letting em hop all over her I just wish she'd get up and show them how to catch bugs and stuff.. not sure if I should pick her and the chicks up and put em out in the yard and see what happens and put Helga back on the unhatched or wait for her to get up and let nature take it's course..

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Benny is still sitting because there's a butt load of eggs that haven't hatched. And she has been sweet to the chicks cleaning them and letting em hop all over her I just wish she'd get up and show them how to catch bugs and stuff.. not sure if I should pick her and the chicks up and put em out in the yard and see what happens and put Helga back on the unhatched or wait for her to get up and let nature take it's course..

It sounds to me like Benny is indeed broody. Broody hens will stay on the nest either until all of the eggs are hatched or she is sure they won't hatch. After they hatch, she will still usually stay on the nest for a couple of days. It took my hen about five days before she started venturing far off the nest for anything other than a quick snack, water, and a good broody poop.

 

[The Happster]

So she is broody.
Putting the unhatched eggs under Helga is not a bad idea at all.
I couldn't let them die. I'd have to try something.
You could put the eggs under Helga and then take Benny out to a patch of nice soft earth and let her teach them a few chicken things.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

No Benny is not broody like I said I got her from tractor supply and she's an old hen about 6 yrs old. She's never hatched her own chicks. Helga on the other hand was raised by the best broody hen I've ever had and has had 3 batches of her own chicks. I put food and water in there like I said and they have been eating and drinking.

Just because they hatched in a hatchery or incubator and are older doesn't mean they can't go broody. I have a 5-6 year old Cochin from a hatchery raising 8 babies, including 4 she never hatched or sat on as eggs

 

[birdlover2]

Hello not sure what to do here. Had one of our broody hens laying on a batch of eggs her name is Helga. Somewhere along the line Helga got up and an older non broody hen got on the eggs her name is Benny. Helga was raised by a broody hen on our farm and Benny was bought from tractor supply. Anywho the eggs started hatching yesterday under Benny only two so far. Benny is still laying on the eggs and the chicks have been hanging out in the box with her, I put some water and chick starter in the box for them. I'm just not sure what to do because I don't know if Benny can take care of them the way Helga does being that Benny has never had chicks of her own whereas Helga has and was raised by an amazing hen. I know the chicks have imprinted on Benny but should I move them to the box that Helga has moved to? I really don't want to break them up I'm just worried she's not going to care for them properly. Usually the chicks have all hatched within 24 hours and they're already out and about all over the yard following mama around but it's almost been 48 hrs and only two chicks have hatched and Benny isn't getting up and showing them around .. any help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!
-Mikala

Definately leave the two that have already hatched, they've imprinted, moving them to a new mom will probably be hard for them. You could slip the remaining eggs under Helga if you're worried about Benny's parenting skills. You could also just let Helga loose and see if she comes for them. If not, then she's abandoned them already.

 

[Muthaofchickens]

She definitely seems to be a good mama for never doing this before . We're up to three babies! And apparently Helga doesn't want the responsibility she's just abandoned another nest and is currently taking a dirt bath in the sun...