Two broody hens swapping nests

[Happychickens33]

Here they are!! They hatched just at the right time because we went to bed, grieving the loss of our prized Swedish Flower Hen Roo by a predator, and when we woke up the next morning, we had four baby chicks!!

 

[LilbirdsMama]

Here they are!! They hatched just at the right time because we went to bed, grieving the loss of our prized Swedish Flower Hen Roo by a predator, and when we woke up the next morning, we had four baby chicks!!

Wow. Im
Sorry for your loss. I’m new around here and have a broody quail mama so I was reading up on this thread. She will be my third broody quail. The first was successful the second hatched chicks they didn’t survive so I’m hoping this time goes well.

 

[Happychickens33]

Wow. Im
Sorry for your loss. I’m new around here and have a broody quail mama so I was reading up on this thread. She will be my third broody quail. The first was successful the second hatched chicks they didn’t survive so I’m hoping this time goes well.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows. Suddenly out of the blue, the more aggressive hen started fighting big time, in fact one chick was in the middle of all of it and got a badly hurt leg. I brought her inside my house and set up a brooder for her. After two weeks, she was able to walk again. I separated the hens though I felt badly that I denied one hen her motherly duties- she wanted to care for all the chicks. I gave the gentle hen her chick back and all were happy.
Meanwhile in the other coup, a hen threw a newly hatched chick out of the nest, it’s head was bleeding and it was still wet from hatching! I rescued her and put her in the in-house brooder, treated her wounds and gave her poultry cell (vitamins). She is doing wonderful now. She’s about 2 weeks younger than the four in the other coup. I’m debating whether to put her in with them, so she doesn’t have to grow up alone.
So glad you are here. I am generally new at this too! Every year it’s different! And I am amazed and intrigued at all the different brooding behaviors and which hens prove to be good mothers.