Should I break my broody hen?

[Sinadrea]

Hello,
Looking for some advice on my broody hen. We just hybrid incubated and let her sit on eggs. We originally had 6 eggs, only 2 made it from the batch. I let the early chick live with the broody for a day but I think it has a spraddle leg so I brought it in. It couldn't walk on its own and 1 leg looks like it's crooked.
The other hatched last night and seems healthy. Should I try to give both to the hen or take care of them indoors. I feel guilty because she is sitting on a bunch of fake eggs now and the little ones are inside. Thanks for the advice!

 

[CoopBoots]

This is a toughie, for me. I'd -try- fixing weakling and let momma work with the healthy one. If weakling heals quick, try reintroduction, and if not, I'd take the healthy one back to its sibling in the brooder and finish raising them myself.

I know it seems unkind to take her babies, but they do not thrive alone. I've let mamas raise singles and they seem to become fearful, insecure birds in my experience. So my priority is to keep them together vs. letting mama have one permanently. Plus, this will help move mama hormonally from sitting to the mothering phase, from which she probably will break much more quickly.

I'm not an expert, but I do a good bit of broody hatching. There's no wrong answer, but this is what I think would be best for my own birds. Best of luck!!

 

[Sinadrea]

I gave the healthy chick to the mom, hopefully it will figure out how to warm.up.under her. I think the other one may die so thats all I can do.

 

[CoopBoots]

I gave the healthy chick to the mom, hopefully it will figure out how to warm.up.under her. I think the other one may die so thats all I can do.

I'm so sorry. It's tough with wee chicks sometimes. I hope it pulls through for you!

 

[Debbie292d]

This is a toughie, for me. I'd -try- fixing weakling and let momma work with the healthy one. If weakling heals quick, try reintroduction, and if not, I'd take the healthy one back to its sibling in the brooder and finish raising them myself.

I know it seems unkind to take her babies, but they do not thrive alone. I've let mamas raise singles and they seem to become fearful, insecure birds in my experience. So my priority is to keep them together vs. letting mama have one permanently. Plus, this will help move mama hormonally from sitting to the mothering phase, from which she probably will break much more quickly.

I'm not an expert, but I do a good bit of broody hatching. There's no wrong answer, but this is what I think would be best for my own birds. Best of luck!!

I agree with this.

Give the mom the healthy one.

Here's a link of how to fix the legs for the splayed leg one. It should only take a couple of days since you're catching it so early. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/splay-leg-and-spraddle-leg-treatment.78240/

Once you've got it fixed, I'd put this one under her at night.

 

[Debbie292d]

I gave the healthy chick to the mom, hopefully it will figure out how to warm.up.under her. I think the other one may die so thats all I can do.

Chicks with splayed legs don't generally die from that. They may die if they have other issues though. Splayed legs can be corrected in 2-3 days if caught early.

 

[Sinadrea]

Chicks with splayed legs don't generally die from that. They may die if they have other issues though. Splayed legs can be corrected in 2-3 days if caught early.

So I do have tape around the legs but am unsure if it was splay or something else. One leg looks bent the wrong way. I have started giving the chick vitamins to treat it also. Not sure if I diagnosed properly, but I'm hoping it's helping.

 

[Debbie292d]

So I do have tape around the legs but am unsure if it was splay or something else. One leg looks bent the wrong way. I have started giving the chick vitamins to treat it also. Not sure if I diagnosed properly, but I'm hoping it's helping.
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It could be it's got a slipped tendon since you said one leg looks bent the wrong way. I had one I put in a toothpick container (small tube) but I'd caught that right after hatching in an incubator so put it back in for 24 hrs and it wound up fine.

Here's an article with some pretty drastic chick legs in it that were fixed. It might give you some other ideas to try straighten it out. Yes, vitamins will help too! https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-caring-for-the-special-needs-chick.72163/