My broodie Bantam Cochin hen Pebbles has been broody for about 5 weeks. She first started sitting on eggs in late May, and she sat on them for about a week before my daughter, deciding that she didn't want a broody hen, went out and took Pebble's eggs away. Well, Pebbles was not to be deterred, so she just moved into another nest box and started laying again. Well, other hens were apparently also sneaking in there and laying, and even a duck! Well, Pebbles was just the start. Right after she went broody, one of my White Silkies went broody. For some freaky reason the girls played musical nest boxes so much that I lost track of whose eggs Pebbles finally ended up on, though I think it was the Silkie's. About a week ago, another Cochin hen went broody. There are 4 more broody hens that snuck UNDER the coop too.
Anyway, Pebbles finally had a chick hatch. We found it yesterday morning when we went to feed and water the birds. Since my girls are so reluctant to move off their nests I bring food and scratch to them, and treats, so they don't miss out on any yummies. Well, inside the house I had a bad hatch. I had set 12 d'Uccle eggs, and only one hatched. I didn't want to raise it alone so I figured why not slip it under the broody since she only has the one chick? So this morning I scooped the tiny baby up and I took it outside to Pebbles. I petted her and then my daughter lifted her with the intention of slipping the chick under her. We peeked under her as we slipped the baby beneath her and...the other chick is missing!!!!! So we are scared, looking all around the coop hoping and praying that it didn't wander off or get hurt, when suddenly my older DD hears peeping coming from her right, nearer to the door. Well, Pebbles was in the middle nest box. Potty, the hen that just went broody last week is in the one furthest to the right. So she scoopes up Pooty and what do we find? The chick hiding behind her! She seemed oblivious that it was even there. So we picked it up and slipped it back under Pebbles. Then we left all the broodies alone after making sure they had food and fresh water in the coop. I came back out this evening after my older DD comes inside and says Pebbles had evicted the Silkie from her eggs, and was now sitting in that nest box, but hadn't take her chicks with her! And the Silkie was wandering around aimlessly, unwilling to go into the box while there were chicks in there. So my daughter had scooped up the chicks and put them back in with Pebbles, which is where they are now. Pebbles is such a gentle girl, and so sweet, but I don't know why she just up and left the babies. Has anyone had this happen before? Could anyone give me an idea as to why it happened? I'm worried about those chicks and wondering if I shouldn't go collect them and brood them indoors. Can anyone give me some advice? These are my first broodies. I don't want to lose those chicks! Especially the d'Uccle, it's a Porcelain! Do I have to worry about her leaving them again? Any help with this would be very much appreciated. Thanks.
