Well Thanksgiving day went out to get the horses for a ride and there was a chicken at the feed room and it looked like she had some sparrows by her as as I got closer it was 1 of my hens and she had baby chickes with her...8 little chickes...they are so cute and I didnt think they would set eggs during all of the cold weather that we have been getting...We caught her and all the babies and brought them inside. They are all doing good and liking the warmer area that they are in now.The momma hen is a stinker when you try to feed her so I was thinking about putting her back outside. Would this be a good idea or not as this is new for me as I usually order baby chiks to raise? She is a real stinker and I know she is being protective but...
THat is so neat! I don't know the answer to your question since I haven't any of my hens go broody yet:-( I think it would be so neat to find a bunch of little babies
Yep it was a real surprise as I didnt even know she wasnt in the coop at night when I put them up every night. Too many predators and I still havent found where she had them yet. Still looking ...And the babies are soooo cute all different colors...
Usually broody chicks (chicks from broodies) are not as nice as the chicks without a broody. With a broody you can't handle the chicks, without, they come to love you.
I would take the hen away.. I really dont like momma raised chicks.. they are wild as can be.. make sure they cant hear her though.. I took some away from a hen and they could hear her and they were like little Houdinis.. everytime I turned around they were breaking out to go be with her...
Up to you. I let my momma hen raise chicks because they are more predator and chicken life smart than when i raise them by hand. Yes they are much more skittish though.
I think leaving them with the mom is more natural and they seem to grow faster and are more healthy. My Buffs hatched some chicks at the end of winter last year and they were fine. She raised them in our horse barn and she would let me raise her up and handle them. I think it just depends on the chicken and how much they are used to you...I know one thing they sure poop a lot and I can not imagine them and the mom in the house....I would make them a place in a stall in your barn. Mine made a nest in the hay feeder and she had lots of hay for warmth... good luck!
Quote:WOW! This made me feel all warm inside... which is hard to do in this cold weather! Congratulations on the new chickies! I love chickies! My Ameraucana hatched two chicks early October and they are now HUGE! I think they are almost as big as their surrogate mothers. (They are chicks from my standard hens that won't sit. One=EE and the other RS but both have BR dad so they look like him!) It's comical to try and see their mom trying to keep them warm now. They should be keeping HER warm! LOL! Awww...now I want MORE chicks!!! ~:-V
Well she is a Aracana and the babies are all mixed up...I think some of the roos I butchered earlier were maybe the daddys of some as none look like her but 1. I might take the momma out and raise the babies by themselves. She is a real stinker and tries to get me when I feed her.