How young will a chook go clucky?

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 12:41 pm

One of ours went broody straight after raising one family, she was really run down and since she was sitting only on a couple of eggs I took them away from her as she really needed a break to improve her condition. Her behaviour turned rather vicious and psychotic attacking the other girls and chicks. Ended up relocating her as she had turned rather nasty especially with the other hen's chicks and I heard she is sitting again. I supposed some hens just have a stronger maternal instinct than others.

How cold and wet are your winters? And are you prepared for Clara and her potential family? Sometimes Mother Nature's timing is never right or convenient...

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Hens and Hobbits wrote:

Her behaviour turned rather vicious and psychotic attacking the other girls

Oh dear lord! I hope Clara doesn't go psyco on me. I was already starting to wonder if I separated her from the others to have her brood, what I would need to do to re-introduce her to the group.

Hens and Hobbits wrote:

How cold and wet are your winters? And are you prepared for Clara and her potential family? Sometimes Mother Nature's timing is never right or convenient...

Our winters aren't really cold & we are suppose to be getting more rain, but you ask a very good question HH. One that I haven't really asked myself (or sort the forums help on). What would I need to have prepared for this potential new family? I haven't even started to make a list of what I might & definitely do need, as this is an unknown, apart from chicken crumble & water & their mum.

Which the answer to this could actually help me make my mind up for sure.

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Just a separate brooder/nursery accommodation that is safe from predators and as you are worried the coming winter weather elements and a small feeder and small water so the chicks can't drown in it.

The only other problems would be finding homes for any cockerels that hatch, remember I had 6/7 cockerels from two mothers with 5/5 cockerels from The Lavender Gang.

As for reintroduction the mother needs to be fit and healthy to re estbalish herself in the pecking order, hens are indeed rather mean to to weak and vulnerable or you can just get a new younger pullet to put her in with like I did with Lady Frances and The Pretty One so Clara will be Alpha Chook.

There are topics in Poultry Housing and Incubation and Chick Rearing.

viewtopic.php?f=43&t=14679

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=14841

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=17359

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=14713

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=13070

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

So she can't stay in the pen with the others?

Will they attack the chicks? Won't she defend them?

Petite Poulet wrote:

The only other problems would be finding homes for any cockerels that hatch, remember I had 6/7 cockerels from two mothers with 5/5 cockerels from The Lavender Gang.

I'm mainly doing this so she gets to be a mum. I only hope the she doesn't go psyco like HH's girl. I'm hoping if I let her be a mum this time that tht will get it out of her system for mother 12months.

Do they still lay eggs when they are looking after chicks?

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Chicka-Dee wrote:

So she can't stay in the pen with the others?

Best to separate her, as the others may get jealous and try and steal her clutch or break the eggs when she hops of to eat, drink and poop.

Chicka-Dee wrote:

Will they attack the chicks? Won't she defend them?

Yes, even if Clara defends her chicks to the death, the other hens may well attack the little chicks, once again jealousy and pecking order and the babies are the smallest and lowest in the rank and easy targets.

Chicka-Dee wrote:

Do they still lay eggs when they are looking after chicks?

The Pretty One came back into lay when The Lavender Gang were 6 weeks old and Boss Chookie when Thing 1 and Thing 2 were 7 weeks old. There is a 2 week withholding period on the human consumption of eggs as the chick crumble is medicated. So once Clara goes back into lay and you want to eat her eggs you will have to separate her from the chicks so she can't eat their crumble. By then the chicks should have enough feathering but may need additional heat at night. Most mother hens now when it is the best time for them to leave the nest.

There is a lot of juggling with housing all of them probably. Preparation is the main key.

I think Clara will be a most dedicated mum she is already sitting steadfast on her nest and self mutilated herself feathering the nest.

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:18 pm

Seeing those little heads popping out from under their mum for the first time is an amazing experiencing, watching the mother hen showing her babies to eat and drink, watching them grow from cute feather balls to geeky looking teenagers...

Priceless...

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Okay, so I've gone & done it!

I went & bought 4 fertile eggs today & put them under Clara and she is sitting tight & steadfast. Now, I just have to sit & play the waiting game.

Hens and Hobbits wrote:

Seeing those little heads popping out from under their mum for the first time is an amazing experiencing, watching the mother hen showing her babies to eat and drink, watching them grow from cute feather balls to geeky looking teenagers...

Priceless...

If all goes to plan it will be HH, but I can't count my chickens until they have hatched so I will just have to wait & see.

Fingers crossed everyone.

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Clara,

Are you going to wait until the chicks hatch to move them and mum to a brooder nursery?

Very eggsciting!!!

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Thanks PP

Clara is definitely not moving. I have been feeding her some mash, veggies & mealworms from my hand to keep up her protein and then dribbling drops of water down her beak so she gets to drink. She won't get off to get food or drink or a number 2.

Is this normal that they don't get off; at all.

Petite Poulet wrote:

Are you going to wait until the chicks hatch to move them and mum to a brooder nursery?

No, we are going to have to move her tomorrow as the existing coop has to be moved so we can progress to stage two of the new coop.

I so don't know how we are going to do this. May end up blowing the whole thing if she jumps off & doesn't go back on.

Thanks for the good luck wishes PP

Cheers
Chicka

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Chicka-Dee wrote:

Clara is definitely not moving.on't get off to get food or drink or a number 2.

Is this normal that they don't get off; at all.

Not sure and don't think so as both my broody hens got off to eat, drink and a poop. Has anything upset her to make her so steadfast as with the nesting feather plucking sounds rather OC.

Chicka-Dee wrote:

No, we are going to have to move her tomorrow as the existing coop has to be moved so we can progress to stage two of the new coop.

Possibly may have waited to put the fertile eggs under Clara after moving her rather than before, girls are very temperamental with such things.

Good luck with the new coop, Clara's move and chicks to come...

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