Will our broody adopt day-old chicks?

[mountainchickens]

It will at least while she's out of the nest....then see how she reacts to the chicks....and how they react to her. The chicks should try to follow her.

Okay! We haven't done it yet, but saw a good sign this morning... she moved nesting boxes and got one of the chicks to follow her. Put the other two back next to her and they snuggled in. She seems happy, and I think all the other two need is a little more time to get to trust her like the first one.

 

[mountainchickens]

Around two hours ago she went a bit psycho and started pecking at the chicks... she'd been a good mom all day but then just snapped. They're in their brooder now, she didn't do any damage to them. After half an hour or so of being generally crazy, eating food and drinking like a maniac, dust bathing and pecking all her flockmates, she went back to the nesting box. We'll try again tonight. I think her psycho phase has worn off. It was odd though.

 

[BarnGems]

Around two hours ago she went a bit psycho and started pecking at the chicks... she'd been a good mom all day but then just snapped. They're in their brooder now, she didn't do any damage to them. After half an hour or so of being generally crazy, eating food and drinking like a maniac, dust bathing and pecking all her flockmates, she went back to the nesting box. We'll try again tonight. I think her psycho phase has worn off. It was odd though.

Could that be her broodiness has worn off? I hope she takes them back again but it just seems wrong of her to do that ever. I was thinking it's a one way road, yes she takes them and that's that, or not at all. Is this her first time brooding?

 

[aart]

I'm afraid they didn't bond.

 

[mountainchickens]

Could that be her broodiness has worn off? I hope she takes them back again but it just seems wrong of her to do that ever. I was thinking it's a one way road, yes she takes them and that's that, or not at all. Is this her first time brooding?

She's been broody again for the past few hours, so I think she's still at it.... yeah, I really hope she takes them back again! She was shut in the coop before she started pecking them, so I think she was feeling confined and helpless or something. She's calmer now. Yes, it's her first time brooding - she's only six or seven months old.

I'm afraid they didn't bond.

Yes... If she doesn't take them tonight, then she probably won't end up taking them, period. I think she bonded with one of the chicks who she got to follow her around a little and didn't peck as much when she went crazy. Will be getting up early tomorrow to check on them, around first light, and make sure she's not pecking again. I hope she doesn't...

 

[aart]

Well, it was a crap shoot,
with her only being broody for about a week...and the chicks being 10 days old

 

[mountainchickens]

Well, it was a crap shoot,
with her only being broody for about a week...and the chicks being 10 days old

Yeah. We didn't realize their age until we got home... We might give her a few more days so she reaches 2 weeks of being broody and try again. Who knows though, the chicks are pretty old. I have heard some stories of people being successful up to a month old, but I gather it's pretty rare.

 

[t3wine]

You can do that.. but it would be best to tuck them in once hatch is complete... I think. The adoptees will be fully mobile while the new hatchers will still be trying to get their land legs.

If you can't have roos... I would not hatch. However, I would take my chances with sexed pullets in a breed I like over sex links which are notorious for reproductive cancer type stuff and often passing by two years old.


I ONLY have that issue if waiting until the chicks are too old.

ETA: I would NOT want to be on vacation during hatch... so many things can happen... And I want to know WHAT happened... for example if all the chicks die was it a terrible mum or flock antics, simple failure to thrive, rats... what???

Can you please elaborate on sex links and cancer and dying at age two. I’ve never heard of that! Thank you!

 

[BarnGems]

Can you please elaborate on sex links and cancer and dying at age two. I’ve never heard of that! Thank you!

I am not certain which sex link they are referring to exactly but it's probably the red ones.
Here is an article about it:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/an-inside-look-at-the-humble-sexlink-chicken.73484/

I have never owned red sex link so I can't say if this really applies to all red sex links or just one hatchery has a line that has the problem. The idea is they have more problems because they have over-active ova-tracts. If you want a pet chicken to live 5-7 years don't get a sex link. You want an egg machine who will burn out and need to be replaced in a few years go with a sex link. Some birds where created with a purpose in mind: Cornish cross- meat bird and red/black Sex link - egg layer.

Not to say you can't get one of these to out live there target age, it's just that they where not designed to.

 

[mountainchickens]

I am not certain which sex link they are referring to exactly but it's probably the red ones.
Here is an article about it:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/an-inside-look-at-the-humble-sexlink-chicken.73484/

I have never owned red sex link so I can't say if this really applies to all red sex links or just one hatchery has a line that has the problem. The idea is they have more problems because they have over-active ova-tracts. If you want a pet chicken to live 5-7 years don't get a sex link. You want an egg machine who will burn out and need to be replaced in a few years go with a sex link. Some birds where created with a purpose in mind: Cornish cross- meat bird and red/black Sex link - egg layer.

Not to say you can't get one of these to out live there target age, it's just that they where not designed to.

x2. We've had a few sex-links who lived into old-ish age, but only a few. They are great for a lot of eggs and a reliable hen for a couple of years, just typically not as many as some other breeds. Those were only red though, not sure about black stars or legbars or any of those other breeds.
Thanks everyone for the great info in this thread! Our broody has successfully adopted her three chicks and is ultra-protective of them. They've learned to be pretty loyal to her as well. Now we just have to keep our Silkie cross out of the broody's nesting box - she has taken a great interest in the chicks!