Back to Broody but with young chick

[Anonymous]

One of my broodies did a wonderful job and hatched a couple of chicks. She's been a great mum. All the birds free-range here and I have pretty much left them to it. The chicks were a couple weeks old but sadly the wee black one managed to get itself in a water tub (heaven only knows how) and must have died of cold. Am so cross with myself - if only I had hung out the washing earlier - I might have noticed and been able to save it. Hey-ho. Anyway mum and other chick have been out around the garden pecking away all fine and dandy - now this evening I find her back in the coop sitting in the laying corner on a pile of eggs along with her surviving chick. Whilst I am perfectly happy for her to sit for another batch (I have other broodies on hatching eggs and I could reduce their numbers and give her 7 or 8) - would this be ok. Will the wee chick be ok or will I have to take it away. If I move mum from the coop back into the dog crate where she incubated the others - so chick could come and go? What do we think? Tonight I have replaced the freshly laid eggs under her with golf balls and will see how she behaves tomorrow. Is that normal for a broody to go back to it so quickly? Cant wait til I have more confidence and know some more of the answers. You really are wonderfully supportive and knowledgeable. Thank you. N

 

[Davidd]

Hi, is she definately broody? or just back on lay? does she have a broody voice? how old is the chick? do you have any others you can put it with?
regards, David

 

[snifter]

If she sits on eggs then the chick won't be able to get out and about. Which is what Mum needs to do with it really. She'll need to sit on it till its feathering is through at least. My broodies have stayed with chicks between 5-8 weeks, dependant on the bird.

I'd be inclined to take her off the golf balls and eggs and just leave her with her chick. And then to ensure that tomorrow they go outside and she is with the chick outside in the day. And at night if she goes to a nestbox and sits on eggs, move her off them with the chick. So long as she is not out and out rejecting it I'd say it will be fine.

I'd not keep her confined to a box with eggs as a) she needs to fatten up and get back into shape for a few weeks more ideally before sitting again and b) she needs to care for that chick and get out and about with it.

If she sits on eggs in the day, again, I'd remove her and put her outside with the chick.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks guys. Snifter - I felt that too - I would like to see her getting herself back on form - she's been such a triffic mum. I will discourage her sitting. Merci, N