Two Broody Hens and Chicks Help

[jnbelknap]

I have a first time broody polish who has been sitting on a clutch of duds for 23 days. I ordered her some day old chicks (6) which arrived today. I also have a seasoned Cochin broody who has adopted and hatched several clutches. She is on day 17 of 4 developing eggs.

I tried to give the polish these chicks. I swapped slowly and waited until she was deep asleep. She woke up and freaked out and started pecking the babies. I removed them.

My question is, should I give these day old to the momma I know will adopt them safely? And should I give the developing eggs to the polish? I do not trust my polish. She ate one of her dud eggs yesterday. So I am fearful of giving her the developing eggs. What would you do?

 

[PD-Riverman]

I tried to give the polish these chicks. I swapped slowly and waited until she was deep asleep. She woke up and freaked out and started pecking the babies. I removed them.

My question is, should I give these day old to the momma I know will adopt them safely? And should I give the developing eggs to the polish? I do not trust my polish. She ate one of her dud eggs yesterday. So I am fearful of giving her the developing eggs. What would you do?

Did you put the chicks under her at first dark? That's the way most do it. You can try the other hen and see what happens---if she accepts them---remove her eggs and then remove the duds and put the eggs under the polish. Good Luck

 

[orrpeople]

In think this largely depends on how much you want the developing chicks. Are they some you've been working with, or barnyard mix? (I'm not saying that every little chick life isn't important.) If you really need your experienced mamma to hatch them, then you'll probably have to leave them as is. Once you give chicks to your cochin, there's no going back to the eggs, so if you have an incubator, you can have it standing by if the polish has issues. Otherwise, as PD said, you could try again with the chicks and the polish early in the evening, just at dark, and have her sit on them all night. This often makes a huge difference.
Best of luck! Broodies can be so fun...and such headaches too! lol

 

[jnbelknap]

I tried to put them under her midday. I will try again tonight at dusk. Will I know if she rejects them, or is there a possibility she'll turn on them in the morning? I spent a lot on these breeds (barnevelder, cream legbar, maran, and blue favaucana). I'd be devastated if she killed them.

I am attached to the four developing eggs (Easter Eggers), but not as much as these day old ones. It's a tough position because they are already so far along.

Perhaps I will go buy an incubator as a backup.

 

[lazy gardener]

I tried to put them under her midday. I will try again tonight at dusk. Will I know if she rejects them, or is there a possibility she'll turn on them in the morning? I spent a lot on these breeds (barnevelder, cream legbar, maran, and blue favaucana). I'd be devastated if she killed them.

I am attached to the four developing eggs (Easter Eggers), but not as much as these day old ones. It's a tough position because they are already so far along.

Perhaps I will go buy an incubator as a backup.

Anything is a possibility when you are dealing with live animals. Check your state thread and see if you can find an incubator to borrow. There's a learning curve with a bator, as I'm sure you are aware. Your best chance for success will be if you read all of "hatching eggs 101" in the learning center before plugging a bator in. Given your financial investment, and the fact that these breeds are important to you, I think I'd be inclined to either hand raise them or give them to the seasoned broody at the sacrifice of her 17 day eggs. (if you've not considered a heating pad as a heat source, I highly recommend it. Depending on your coop set up and amount of available room, and electricity, you might be able to brood the chicks right in the coop, and have them integrating at 3 weeks of age!)

 

[centrarchid]

I would not expect second hen to adopt chicks unless her eggs are close to hatching. The polish could still work but may require close proximity where hen can not actually get at chicks. If up to me, I would put chicks under her at dark making sure she does not go after them even then. Early next morning I would check to see how to see if she is OK with them. If not then I would pen the chicks very close to hen so she can continue to sit on clutch and talk to new bitties. Provision chicks with food and water. I assume you place warm enough for chicks to be exposed during day.

Another approach would start like above but you keep hen with chicks in dark for a solid 24 hours to allow more time for parties to imprint on each other.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I tried to put them under her midday. I will try again tonight at dusk. Will I know if she rejects them, or is there a possibility she'll turn on them in the morning?

Be there a little before day light----not right at her but where you can see her without her knowing you are there----if she starts pecking them----grab them. She might accept them?? I brood mine---I have brooded 1000's and 1000's in the last 3 years----its not to bad. Good Luck

 

[centrarchid]

You can setup a makeshift brooder and a 60 watt incandescent light bulb, lamp and a 10-gallon aquarium or a metal wash tub. Set to light shines down only on side of tank from close range. If chicks get hot they can move away from bulb.

 

[jnbelknap]

Thank you everyone!

Update: I ended up putting the polish in my debrooder box. It was not worth the risk for me. Instead, I kept the 6 bought chicks in my indoor brooder until last night. Yesterday was hatch day, so I added the 6 bought chicks under the mama hen at night. This morning she was out teaching all 9 to eat and drink (the 6 plus the 3 hatchlings). The last egg had pipped and was left in the nest. I brought the last chick inside to hatch, and we now have a drying, healthy #10. I will add her to the clutch tonight.

 

[Ladybird CA]

Just read this thread and that's what I was thinking, it was so close to hatch for the eggs and hens can't count. Makes sense to keep the chicks in a brooder for a few days and then give them to her after the other eggs hatch.