LesliesChickens
In the Brooder
- Sep 18, 2024
- 4
- 2
- 11
This is my first time doing this: introducing chicks to a broody mom. I need advice.
I had 4 laying hens, all bantam size. 2 of those hens are silkies and they always stuck next to each other. Almost 5 days ago I had one of my silkie’s pass away due to what I assume was a heart attack when going to bed. She was completely healthy. No egg stuck, no pecking marks. It was very sudden but the silkie I have left is around 3 years old. After her friend passed away, she didn’t want to free range with my other hens. She seemed depressed and would just hang out by the entrance inside the coop. After sitting so much, she became broody. I felt like this broody session was different. I got her 1-2 day old chicks and she did accept them. I also took away the eggs she was sitting on. The first day she ate with them and she let them sleep under her overnight but she was still always just wanting to be in the nest area. Today is the same thing. I created a section for her and the chicks within the coop run and she still just sits there. I pick her up and she’s fine but then I put her back down and she just sits. She will sit in the nesting area or outside of it. I’m kind of overwhelmed. I’m not sure if the chicks broke her broodiness or she’s just really depressed and wanting to slowly pass away from a broken heart. It’s day 2 with the chicks and she’s just not wanting to walk around. I thought she’d want to scavenge around with the babies but she’s just there.
Should I take the chicks away from her? Is this normal for her? Should I rehome her to another flock? Is there hope she’ll change?
Backstory on her: I’ve only had her for a year. I got her from a woman who only had silkies and was getting rid of them all. She came with one other silkie but she passed away after 6 months with me due to unknown reason, I think she had an internal issue as she always had a pasty bottom even after cleaning it multiple times. So she’s seen both her friends pass away. She always just stuck to her silkie friends.
I had 4 laying hens, all bantam size. 2 of those hens are silkies and they always stuck next to each other. Almost 5 days ago I had one of my silkie’s pass away due to what I assume was a heart attack when going to bed. She was completely healthy. No egg stuck, no pecking marks. It was very sudden but the silkie I have left is around 3 years old. After her friend passed away, she didn’t want to free range with my other hens. She seemed depressed and would just hang out by the entrance inside the coop. After sitting so much, she became broody. I felt like this broody session was different. I got her 1-2 day old chicks and she did accept them. I also took away the eggs she was sitting on. The first day she ate with them and she let them sleep under her overnight but she was still always just wanting to be in the nest area. Today is the same thing. I created a section for her and the chicks within the coop run and she still just sits there. I pick her up and she’s fine but then I put her back down and she just sits. She will sit in the nesting area or outside of it. I’m kind of overwhelmed. I’m not sure if the chicks broke her broodiness or she’s just really depressed and wanting to slowly pass away from a broken heart. It’s day 2 with the chicks and she’s just not wanting to walk around. I thought she’d want to scavenge around with the babies but she’s just there.
Should I take the chicks away from her? Is this normal for her? Should I rehome her to another flock? Is there hope she’ll change?
Backstory on her: I’ve only had her for a year. I got her from a woman who only had silkies and was getting rid of them all. She came with one other silkie but she passed away after 6 months with me due to unknown reason, I think she had an internal issue as she always had a pasty bottom even after cleaning it multiple times. So she’s seen both her friends pass away. She always just stuck to her silkie friends.
