We know broody hens. How about a nanny hen?

[azygous]

Update:
Su-su has been reluctant to go outside of the safety of the run until now. It's likely painful besides being scary for a lame chicken such as she is. But these chicks are now nearly eight weeks old and they're getting bolder about exploring the world outside their run and away from the protection of their Nanny Su.

Well, she's finally risking it. I caught her outside with her brood yesterday.

 

[azygous]

Su-su is also very much luxuriating in this little arrangement. The chicks are always snuggled up to her when they aren't running around taking care of important business. I am wondering if they may remain a sub-flock after the chicks are grown.

 

[aart]

I am wondering if they may remain a sub-flock after the chicks are grown.

Wondering the same, she may never 'wean' them.

 

[azygous]

@aart that is my concern also. By this age, all my chicks have been perch trained. These guys are being corrupted by Su-su to continue sleeping in a pile on the floor. This is a classic case of an over protective mom impeding normal development.

Su-su has had to be helped onto a perch at night to roost for a number of years. Lately, she was roosting on the low heavy breed perch in the adult coop. So I placed a low perch in the grow-out coop, but she is uninterested.

I try to calm my concerns by reasoning that she will start going unbroody at some point, and then I may be able to convince her to roost with her chicks instead of piling on the floor.

Stay tuned to this unfolding saga.

 

[ValerieJ]

I'm curious as to why sleeping in a heap on the floor is a problem.

Wondering what happened to Su Su that she is lame.

 

[azygous]

It's not a problem when the chicks are tiny and so is their poop. Now the chicks are half grown and they generate so much poop at night, it sticks to them and it's not healthy. It's also warmer on a perch in winter.

I have an avian virus in my flock and it can affect joints. Su-su is the fifth chicken to have this issue, but she's still able to get around. The others were so lame they couldn't function and had to be euthanized.

 

[ValerieJ]

It's not a problem when the chicks are tiny and so is their poop. Now the chicks are half grown and they generate so much poop at night, it sticks to them and it's not healthy. It's also warmer on a perch in winter.

I have an avian virus in my flock and it can affect joints. Su-su is the fifth chicken to have this issue, but she's still able to get around. The others were so lame they couldn't function and had to be euthanized.

Thanks for your answer. After 6 years of this new adventure, I'm still learning every day. All my chickens roost on roost bars now, but there was a time, in the old coops, when some of them preferred the nesting boxes. And that was the problem with the old coops. New one is a dream. So much better for them and me in so many ways.

Sorry to hear about the avian flu that struck your flock, and that you had to euthanize some of them. That is sad indeed. But, it's wonderful that you have been able to give Su-su a fulfilling life!

 

[Perris]

I have an avian virus in my flock and it can affect joints.

is that mycoplasma synoviae?

 

[azygous]

is that mycoplasma synoviae?

As far as I know, that one isn't carried by my flock. They have lymphoid leucosis.

 

[azygous]

Last night, I tried to reason with Su-su. Of course, we all know it's impossible to reason with a broody, and Su-su is plenty broody. I told her the chicks are ready to roost and she needs to get with the program.

While we were chatting, the chicks proved my point by hopping up onto the high perches in the coop. I told Su-su. "See? I told you!"

So I stuck Su-su up there with them. That didn't go over well with Su-su. She growled and cussed, as broodies are wont to do, and hopped down. Actually, Su-su's dismount consists of heaving herself off into mid-air and landing on her head.

She angrily made straight for her bed on an old rug on the floor. The chicks obediently followed suit. So, they all piled and pooped on the rug again, and I guess I just have to wait for those hormones to dry up. I could always stick her in a broody cage and break her, but I'm not willing to be that cruel to this little family.

At least I know the chicks will roost willingly when Su-su gives up sleeping on the floor.