When Broody is also lowest in the pecking order...

[Rysktal]

Can we talk about that?

I'm curious what your experiences have been when the lowest hen in the pecking order hatches and raises chicks.

My first broody experience was with my alpha hen and she was a fierce mama who had her babies integrated into the flock right away.

Now I have my lowest in the pecking order with 3 chicks, I had to seperate her from the flock because Alpha hen tried to kill her babies and now I wonder if this mama even has it in her to integrate her chicks into the flock. When I am feeding and cleaning her brooder she goes outside (without babies) and immediately gets chased and pecked relentlessly until she decides to come back inside.

I can't help but wonder if letting her have babies was a big mistake...

 

[50-45-1]

Its a hard call, you never know.
I had an alpha hen who flew into a foxes face three time to protect her babies, giving me time to get ths gun.
I also had a subordinate hen turn into a fierce tazmanien that even the rooster would not mess with when she had her brood.
Another hen about medium on the spetrum who had a tough time intregating back. I just made places for her to ecsape the others.
Hope your hen and her babies will be OK.

 

[Rysktal]

Thank you @50-45-1
I have her in a "see but can't touch" brooder right now. Hoping that method will make everything easier. We shall see.

 

[SueT]

What breeds are they? I'll be interested in updates....my most likely-to-be-broody is pretty low in the order. Let us know how it goes! Good luck!

 

[Rysktal]

What breeds are they? I'll be interested in updates....my most likely-to-be-broody is pretty low in the order. Let us know how it goes! Good luck!

My alpha hen is an Olive Egger and the low broody is half silkie half Old English game. Her chicks are from eggs I got off a friend (2 half Australorp and I think a pure lavender Orpington)

 

[SueT]

My alpha hen is an Olive Egger and the low broody is half silkie half Old English game. Her chicks are from eggs I got off a friend (2 half Australorp and I think a pure lavender Orpington)

If you have any pics of mom and babies, I'd love to see them!

 

[Shadrach]

Did your broody hatch in the group coop Rysktal?
Junior hens hatching chicks is often a problem. In general I try to discourage it.
If the hen sits and hatches in the group coop and isn't separated in any way I have in the past let them get on with it.The rest of the group get used to the chicks from the outset.
If the broody hen sits and hatches somewhere else, a broody coop that is in some way closed off from the rest of the group, or entirely separate, then she has the problem of getting the chicks accepted by the rest of the group. It doesn't seem to matter if the other hens can see into the broody coop, it's the lack of access that seems to be the problem.
What I've found helps is if the broody hen is one of the roosters favorites. Then there is a chance that the rooster may offer some protection to the mum.
There isn't an awful lot you can do if the junior hen can't, or won't defend her chicks.
From the senior hens point of view she is the one that should be breeding because she's senior for a reason, if you understand me.
I've had senior hens make life very unpleasant for a junior hen and her chicks and I've not interfered. Would that senior hen actually kill the chicks? I honestly don't know. What happens here is the chicks get a few heavy pecks and learn to run when the senior hen approaches. In time, at least 3 months everything settle down. A lot will depend on how aggressive the senior hen is.
Not an awful lot of help I'm afraid. You'll know for next time though.

 

[llombardo]

I don't know the answer but I immediately felt bad for this girl and her babies.

 

[Shadrach]

My alpha hen is an Olive Egger and the low broody is half silkie half Old English game. Her chicks are from eggs I got off a friend (2 half Australorp and I think a pure lavender Orpington)

I've jut read this. I don't think this i going to work Ryktal.
I know I'll be in the minority but my rule is never put an egg under a hen if she didn't lay it.
I take it then you don't have rooster either?
The hens know these chicks don't belong to the group. Mum knows it too.

 

[SueT]

People put others' eggs under hens to hatch all the time......