Venting -- Postal Service lost my chicks

[Redhead Rae]

It was a long and stressful night, but I think my broody has accepted the chicks. It was a rocky adoption, however. Nothing is going easy with these chicks!

There were two things working against me -- it was so hot in the coop and the chicks were older and not used to being so warm. After initially settling down, they kept crawling out from under her. At first, I don't think she knew what was happening. She got kind of frantic, and was pecking at them. It was not a hard, get out of my nest broody peck, but hard enough where the chicks would run away. I would put them back, and everyone would settle down for awhile. At around midnight, I checked again and found 5 of the7 wandering around the coop. I almost pulled the plug then, but decided to give in one more chance. I put them back under her and just camped out in the coop. Fortunately, I got a clear look of her closely examining a chick that had crawled out from under her and then gently pulling it back under her. That gave me enough confidence to go to bed for a few hours.

Was back out at 4 a.m. 3 little ones were out of the nest, but close by. I tucked them back under, made some coffee and stayed out there until dawn. As it got light, I could hear her talking to them (finally!) and there were no more escapees. I could hear happy chick sounds and see her checking the chicks out under her wings. So, she knows they are there, she's talking to them, and they are staying put.

I won't rest completely easy until I see her lead them off the nest and know they are all there and doing well.

One last note, my coop is a ways from my house, and there is some creepy stuff out there in the dead of a night. I saw two tarantulas, a huge toad, and could hear the eerie sound of bobcat screaming fairly close by.

Whew, what an experience this has been!

I would put food and water very close to the hen and chicks. She may try to keep them on the nest today, and having food close by will help the babies get food if mama is still sitting.

 

[Morrigan]

I would put food and water very close to the hen and chicks. She may try to keep them on the nest today, and having food close by will help the babies get food if mama is still sitting.

We think alike! I just finished doing exactly that. I could see two heads poking out from under her tail feathers. Oh, I hope she proves to be a good mother.

It must have been weird for her to wake up in the middle of the night and find largish chicks crawling out from under her.

 

[Redhead Rae]

We think alike! I just finished doing exactly that. I could see two heads poking out from under her tail feathers. Oh, I hope she proves to be a good mother.

It must have been weird for her to wake up in the middle of the night and find largish chicks crawling out from under her.

My broody leghorn FREAKED when I tried to put the babies under her and ran away. I put the babies in the nest, caught her, and then shut her in the box with the babies until i started hearing broody clucks. She is a great mommy to them.

 

[PouleChick]

so pleased for the totally happy outcome on this one after reading all 13 pages!

One of the postmen actually drove the 1.5 hours to Sacramento to find our chicks and brought them back. We were so grateful for or local post office for going above and beyond.

This actually made me tear up - how amazing!

and there is some creepy stuff out there in the dead of a night. I saw two tarantulas, a huge toad, and could hear the eerie sound of bobcat screaming fairly close by.

scary!

It must have been weird for her to wake up in the middle of the night and find largish chicks crawling out from under her.

Awwww bless her - she is a first time mum though so she wouldn't know how big they are supposed to be

 

[townchicks]

So nice, sounds like you can finally relax some, and leave to Mama hen.

 

[Morrigan]

The moment when you know it was all worth it.

 

[Morrigan]

Awwww bless her - she is a first time mum though so she wouldn't know how big they are supposed to be

I wonder what does got through their heads. Wow, I didn't think they would hatch that fast! And aren't they supposed to be wet or something?

 

[KikiLeigh02]

Precious!!! Thank you for sharing!

The moment when you know it was all worth it.

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[Glitterchicks]

The moment when you know it was all worth it.

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This makes me so happy!!! How's the little blue doing?

 

[CaliforniaPeeping]

Where are you that tarantulas are roaming? I love tarantulas, and toads. October was always tarantula season up at my grandmas in Mariposa.

Glad your chicks appear to be doing well!

It was a long and stressful night, but I think my broody has accepted the chicks. It was a rocky adoption, however. Nothing is going easy with these chicks!

There were two things working against me -- it was so hot in the coop and the chicks were older and not used to being so warm. After initially settling down, they kept crawling out from under her. At first, I don't think she knew what was happening. She got kind of frantic, and was pecking at them. It was not a hard, get out of my nest broody peck, but hard enough where the chicks would run away. I would put them back, and everyone would settle down for awhile. At around midnight, I checked again and found 5 of the7 wandering around the coop. I almost pulled the plug then, but decided to give in one more chance. I put them back under her and just camped out in the coop. Fortunately, I got a clear look of her closely examining a chick that had crawled out from under her and then gently pulling it back under her. That gave me enough confidence to go to bed for a few hours.

Was back out at 4 a.m. 3 little ones were out of the nest, but close by. I tucked them back under, made some coffee and stayed out there until dawn. As it got light, I could hear her talking to them (finally!) and there were no more escapees. I could hear happy chick sounds and see her checking the chicks out under her wings. So, she knows they are there, she's talking to them, and they are staying put.

I won't rest completely easy until I see her lead them off the nest and know they are all there and doing well.

One last note, my coop is a ways from my house, and there is some creepy stuff out there in the dead of a night. I saw two tarantulas, a huge toad, and could hear the eerie sound of bobcat screaming fairly close by.

Whew, what an experience this has been!