What to do with Chicks from School?

[LindseyM12]

 

[gwill23]

OH! I just thought of a good question. Or maybe I am just looking for confirmation. I was assuming that I should introduce the chicks at night after she is settled in for the night. Then slip the golf balls out and the chicks in.

 

[gwill23]

Well I candled the eggs at school today. Oddly some look further along than others. I don't know exactly what is up there but I separated the eggs into two groups. Good and ummm??? I dun-no

I think we may get about half of those maybe. One of the girls dropped one of the eggs and it cracked so they got the chance to see what the embrio looked like at that stage. They thought it was pretty cool.

 

[gwill23]

ok so watching my hen with her new chicks at home teach her chicks how to eat and drink. How do you teach chicks born in a brooder?

 

[gryeyes]

You hold each chick carefully and dip its beak into the water. After you do that, you start over again and dip the chicks' beaks into the feed. Or you can do it alternately, water then feed, with each chick.

Then just keep an eye on 'em to make sure they're eating and drinking.

 

[loopy12]

Quote:
Yes exactly, slip them under at night. She'll probably still sit for a few more days whether or not you take the golf balls away and then mom hormones will kick in and she'll start teaching the chicks chickeny things.

As for teaching chicks in a brooder, as gry eyes said, dip their beaks. I also tap my finger in the chick crumb, or on the feeder and they quickly copy with their beaks.

 

[gwill23]

Update:

2 weeks old today and 6 chicks are living with mom and happy. I have them just open in the coop with the other mom with 4 week olds. I have two feeders and two waterers and they all seem to be doing ok. Except mom is very protective and can get after the other mom and chicks some. I try to watch them.

I have opened up the coop but the 2 week old ones have yet to venture out with mom to free range yet.

 

[write2caroline]

Broody hens do make the best Mommies in my humble opinion!

Caroline

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[hikechick]

THis string of responses gives me hope. We just agreed to take a class's chicks tonight (6). WE have 2 broody hens, and one 4 day old chick that was born here. Hoping that the one with out baby's will take to the chicks. More to come. Any advice is welcomed!

 

[gwill23]

Quote:
Just to recap then for you. I put them under her at night and watched her for about 30 min or so just to make sure there were no issues. Then I went to bed and hoped for the best. They were all alive the next morning. Even now 3 weeks later though she still spends lots of time with them in the nest box. I think this is maybe due to her not being broody for a full term but I don't know. They venture out now to scratch and such. She is really a ver good mom.