[frenchliving]

Just after Christmas little hen went missing, we kept seeing her now and then but then nothing for weeks, she hadnt been going into the coop at night so we assumed Mr Fox had had her, then last week she appeared, I said to hubby I bet shes sitting on eggs somewhere but where in our large garden, anyway we found her and she was sitting on eggs, so we left her be! Hubby went out today and she was off the eggs, there were 3 cold ones and 4 cracked shells but no chicks - anyway tonight we went out to close them up and he found 4 chicks wandering around the garden, she had gone back into the coop with the other hens! So he brought them inside we dilly and dallied abit and then decided to get Little hen and bring her inside with the chicks (its predicted to be cold here tomorrow maybe snow!) she had another 2 chicks under her!

My question is what do i do now?? they surely cant go outside but cant be kept in a cardboard box for days, she is normally free range - although i appreciate that she hasnt moved much the past few weeks?? i do have a lamp that I could clip on a box and just keep the chicks indoors??

What would you do??

[GrannieAnnie]

OOOoh, what to do.  I've never had experience of broody's, but it doesn't really sound like she is a good Mum if she left the first chicks, but then she had another 2 under her.

You are right, cardboard box not a good idea for long as mum will need to have a wander and eat and drink and poo.

Have you got a bit of shed or garage or spare coop you could make her cosy in?  If she doesn't settle down with the chicks, then a broody box and the lamp would be better.  You'll need chick crumbs for the chicks, doesn't matter if Mum eats it too for a while as she won't lay any eggs for a bit I don't think.

[ANHBUC]

If she is indoors overnight with them she might bond a bit better.  She might have left the nest with 2 thinking the others wouldn't hatch and the others hatched afterwards.  As GA says if you can enclose her with the chicks somewhere safe you can keep an eye on her and the chicks.  If she does abandon them a brooder is quite easy to rig up.

I would check the nest again just in case more have hatched out.  She may have headed for the coop knowing that the weather was turning cold and she was protecting her 2 chicks.

[grinling]

She might have gone back to the coop for warmth.
I had Poppy in a rabbit hutch and took her off twice a day to poo/eat. She was happy with that though poos stank!!!
I had several layers of newspaper, then sawdust then straw. If poss have her in a frost free place, outside in minus temp might be too cold.
Inside in a cool place, unheated room for now until hutch/coop would be useful.
Advertise area, someone might be able to lend one.
Ask freecycle/freegle/gumtree/preloved. Local animal centre might have something available.

[joyfull]

yes you really do need a little broody coop and in this weather then place it in a sheltered place or in a garage as has been suggested. If you get organic chick crumb and then organic rearers/growers then if mum does start to lay again it doesn't matter about her eating it. Check their water several times a day because in this weather even in a garage it will freeze.
Do not use straw or hay - both of these can wrap around the feet of the chicks, do not use sawdust as this is too dusty but use shavings or similar. On a sunny day you can take them out onto any grass and if they get cold they will huddle under mum for warmth.
This shows just how hardy our hens are in all weathers 

[frenchliving]

Thanks all, it went all quiet in the box after about 30 mins, so i am assuming she huddled them all up, i didnt like to keep opening and closing the box! I checked local site and saw an indoor rabbit cage? do you think that would do??

i dont think she abondoned them just that they didnt follow, maybe hubby went out shortly after she went in, if that makes sense.

She has been broody before but we have only ever been lucky enough to get 1 baby, maybe it is too many??
I have some chick crumb from the last time so will put it in and see what kind of brooder hubby can knock up today??

Wow that makes now 15 hens:babies and 1 cockerel, this time last year we had 2 hens and 1 cock, sure is addictive

I will keep you all updated

[Sassy]

An indoor rabbit cage should be ideal. If keeping in a garage/outhouse you could cover it with an old carpet/rug/towels for a bit more protection. Do make sure the chick crumbs you are going to use are still 'in life'. I do use things past their use by dates but animal feeds lose vitamin/mineral content after this date and that would not give the chicks or Mom the best chance. Any chick crumb you buy should be free of ACS if you wish to eat any eggs the hen may lay shortly.

Lovely tale

[frenchliving]

Hubby has constructed a box for our utility room its cold today our other birds havent left there coops, so think its best to keep them inside (or utility room isnt heated so not too warm in there) we have put the cardboard box in too so she has somewhere to snuggle up. we placed them in and there are 8 she must have had two tucked under her wings. I must have thrown the chick crumb so have put some crushed maize in for now and water until I get to the shops. They all seemed warm and more mobile this morning!
 
OMG 8 new birds, better start rethinking our coop and run AGAIN! lol

[ANHBUC]

Your setup sounds fine for them.  I have used a large cardboard box in an unheated room before with a mesh panel covering it.  That way Mum doesn't hop out and it works for ventilation as well.  I would get the chick crumb as soon as possible, bad nutrition can cause all sorts of deformaties.  Make sure the chicks can't drown in the water container.  If it is not a chick drinker you can put marbles/pebbles in to keep them safe.

What is your approximate location so it will give us an idea of the weather you will experience?   

[frenchliving]

I am sw france, we have a bit of snow today but mainly sleet! the have said it could get to -6 hence why i am keeping her indoors, but tomorrow think it will be around 11 so we could risk puting them outside when its not too cold in the mornings!

When they have hatched before twice now, I didnt have anywhere else to put them and they just mixed in with the other hen and cockerel and the other birds seemed ok with this? we have a coop and a small run area Im thinking when there is no frost to put mum and her chicks in this pen and leave the door shut, the other 2 birds will come out and roam and i can just open the door and let them go in at night!

I do have another run and 2 coop but this has silkies in and they dont really mix but at a push they would have too wouldnt they, if i kept the little run for mum and her chicks!

Thankyou this site is invaluable! ps i have put pebbles in my little girls dolly feeding bowl so it cant be tipped and there is not loads of water in thanks for checking though

[ANHBUC]

I have used outdoor rabbit hutches for my broodies and chicks in the past.  They are ideal as they are all on one level for the chicks until they are big enough to jump and hop onto different levels.  On nice days they can be allowed outside but beware of hawks and other predators who would make a tasty snack of them.  The problem with them mixing is whether they get along and them eating the wrong food.  If you can make sure they only eat the chick crumb and whatever bugs mum can find they should be fine. 

What breed are Mum and Dad?  Looking forward to some pictures of your little treasures.   

[frenchliving]

Mum and Dad have already been uploaded as i didnt know what breed, so I have just bumped the post for you ANHBUC, its under what breed am i (eventually uploaded pics) scroll down the post a little!

Thanks for your help, I got the chick crumb this afternoon.

Its not just the hawks you have to watch out for the magpies can be just as nasty:-(

T

[grinling]

If they don't get on with the silkies I would leave them be. Do keepan eyeon the temp, it's -5 here!!!

[ANHBUC]

I will have a look at the other post.