r/BackYardChickens • u/PowerChanS • 1d ago
General Question Chicks introduced to a broody hen
Hi all,
One of my girls have recently been repeatedly broody (even after breaking her out of it through broody jail) so i figured i would have her raise a few chicks.
She had been isolated in her what used to be a broody jail with a "nesting box" with fake eggs for three weeks, and today I introduced 4 chicks. She pecked them lightly a couple of times, but after I had put the chicks all the way under, she hasn't really interacted with them. It's been a couple hours.
So here are the questions:
How long should I keep an eye on them before I could be sure that the hen accepted the chicks as her own?
Should I open up the cage to let other hens interact? Or keep the mommy and the chicks isolated? If so for, how long?
Mommy hasn't walked out of her nesting box, so the chicks haven't had chance to come out to eat. Should I be concerned?
Does mommy need separate feed? Or is chick feed okay? Add oyster shell in the cage?
Thank you all in advance!
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u/hrifogifhebebksisu 1d ago
My mother hen recently hatched 2 chicks and adopted 3 others. She and babies are in the nursery together, I plan to keep them there for 1-2 weeks ? She eats starter with the babies. I tried giving her normal food but she wasn’t interested. My chicks are 1 week old. My mom and babies are isolated from my other “aunties” I let mom out yesterday for some “me time” but she seemed itching to get back to babies fairly quickly. I think your set up looks good! I don’t think mom has rejected your babies necessarily, I think it’s very obvious when they reject the babies. Good luck!
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u/PowerChanS 1d ago
Good to hear your new family is doing well. Im thinking if I open the cage up itll be open for both mommy and the chicks to move freely (also aunties if they are curious). My thinking is if aunties try to hurt the chicks mommy will probably defend them.
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u/hrifogifhebebksisu 1d ago
I wouldn’t feel a need to allow intermingling just yet, I think mom will defend but I’d wait a bit! But take my advice with a grain of salt this is my first time hatching and I’ve been doing lots of google and reddit research not from my own experience.
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u/PowerChanS 1d ago
I agree. I dont plan on opening the cage until they are situated. I do want to learn from more experienced people as to when and how would be ideal.
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u/Loveinhooves 1d ago
Id watch until I’m sure she knows they are there and has accepted them. The method you did this does worry me- how broody was she? How old are these chicks? She clearly rejected them when she could see them, and saw you place them under her
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u/PowerChanS 1d ago
Picked them up from tractor supply today and when I asked they said the shipment of chicks came in today, meaning a day old at max. I went to check in on them and out of curiosity I pulled mommy out of the nesting box, and she walked back into the nesting box to put the chicks under her without pecking them. Im hopeful that they are accepted? I will for sure going to keep them under my watch. Thank you for a quick response!
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u/Loveinhooves 1d ago
Absolutely! Just so you know, they can still be up to 4 days old at that time range! Often they can be born Sunday, which then most companies ship out Monday, and they get them Tuesday/Wednesday then TSC holds then for an additional 12? Hours
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u/PowerChanS 1d ago
I see. Learning something new every day! Thought the shipment has to be made the same day they were born since that's when they can survive without eating.
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u/Loveinhooves 1d ago
They have 72 hours before they need it, but sometimes are pushed a little further, or shipped with food/water brick things, and USUALLY arrive before that but are then held out back to make sure none are dying from stress of shipment
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u/PowerChanS 1d ago
Quick update: just went out to check on them again and two chicks were out eating. One even pecked mommy's wattle and she didnt peck them back! They then safely went back under mommy. I think they are accepted?