Hen became a mom, First time having chicks, any tips?

[WaterfowlsPoultry]

Hello everybody, I have a black australorp hen (I think) that layed eggs, sat on them for a while, we thought they would not ever hatch, and we were having issues because my cousin decided to grab random eggs and stuff them inside the nest where my chicken was, so now we don't know what's a fertilized and what's a regular old egg, So after a while I then noticed she's been on there for a while, I thought she would've died because when hens are broody they don't eat, but this very day, I came home from school, did my regular check and saw 3 baby chick's inside the nest, with the mother hen covering them, it seemed they were just born, I've never had chick's before, I've had some chickens like 1 month old but that's about it, is there anything I need to know beforehand? Should I leave it to the mother to figure things out?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thank you! However I am having a small issue, We have a leghorn who laid some eggs and we think the eggs might hatch and the australorp might start taking care of the leghorns offspring, Will this be a problem?

Not at all. Chickens is chickens. Unlike humans, they don't see color, and neither hen knows what egg/ chick came out of whose egg. A chicken will even sit on and hatch a duck egg and vice versa, or partridge, quail or any other bird egg you care to mention. No worries!


ETA: To clarify: I did not mean to say that chickens are literally color blind. What I meant is that chickens will accept chicks of any color, not just chicks that look like themselves. Is a hen even aware of what color she is, herself? I don't know. I think she'd have to look at herself in a mirror and to know that the image she sees is herself. Anyway. Any baby will do. That was my point. Sorry for any confusion.



Except a mother hen might panic when her duck baby goes for a swim ....

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Congratulations, how exciting! Yeah, she'll figure most of it out herself. And hens do eat when they're broody, you just may not notice it. Typically they get off the nest about once a day to eat, drink, dustbathe and release a big ol' stinky poop, then go back to set some more. If they didn't ... well, you can just imagine what the nest would look like! You can help by making food and water available to her. In a day or two she'll get off the nest and take her babies out for a stroll and some life lessons, like, what we eat and what we don't. How to peck and scratch. Little feeders with a Chick Start formula and waterers for the babies are a good idea. She can eat their food, it's high in protein. Any eggs left behind should be discarded.

In the future, hold eggs back for several days until you have as many as you want her to hatch. I think 12 is a good number, others may suggest different. Keep them at room temp in an egg carton, fat side up. Elevate one end of the carton by setting it on some books or the like. Every day, a couple times a day, elevate the other end. After several days when you're sure she's broody (she has slept in the nest 3 nights), mark the eggs by drawing a circle around them with crayon, pencil or permanent marker and give them to her. Either block off her nest and let her out every day for a break, OR check under her every day and remove any eggs that aren't marked. In 21 days the eggs should hatch. Have fun!

Oh, and - thanks for the pics of your babies! Can we see them in daylight?

 

[WaterfowlsPoultry]

Update: She has 7 chicks now!!!

 

[WaterfowlsPoultry]

My duck margarito attacked the chicks and crippled one 2 of them by violently biting their legs.. they did not make it to the nest last night and the mom tried bringing them but they never did. They ended up dying that night and we are missing one more chick but I do not know where it is, I only see 2 dead chicks I think it might have wandered off.

 

[WoDia]

Separate mom and the remaining chicks before you lose any more. She’s very stressed, trying to protect her chicks. You need to move them somewhere she can peacefully (and safely) care for them and herself. I’m sorry to hear about the chicks. I hope you find the missing one.

 

[WaterfowlsPoultry]

So cute! I’m glad she’s doing good! When my pullet hatched Enola I kept them separate for awhile before putting them in it worked well. Is that a heat lamp? I don’t think the chick needs it since it has momma! Enola is around 14 weeks old and still sleeps under Amelia even though they are the same size!

I noticed the chick has gotten quite bigger, She used to have trouble jumping out of the nest but shes gets in and out easily. and she chases her momma around, Once in a while the mother hen will squat down and the chick goes in for some warmth and in a few minutes they are back to walking around, I sprinkled some worms around the yard and the mom takes her chick to them and digs them up. So shes doing excellent so far and will probably get better!

 

[WaterfowlsPoultry]

I have very sad news Unfortunately hope had to be culled, her mother crushed her legs causing them to be crooked and something had blocked her vent as well, If you want any additional information, Please look at my other thread

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Should I leave it to the mother to figure things out?

If you've got a heat lamp on her.. that red in the picture.. it should be removed. The hen can provide all the warmth for the babies.

Congrats on your new little family!

 

[WaterfowlsPoultry]

Except a mother hen might panic when her duck baby goes for a swim ....

I was laughing at this for half an hour