first chick what to do with mum

[Anonymous]

Hi I am new to the board, we have one chick hatching today (our first chick) mum hen is sitting on it and it is chirping and the egg is broken so we are sitting waiting patiently.

They are in a very large box inside, food and water ready.

My question is does mum hen still need to go outside for a run/dust bath or does she just stay with her chick?
If she needs to go outside is it for short bursts - will the chick be warm enough without her?

I am thinking about adding another long box to the one she is in, if she needs to stay with the chick, any other ideas?

How long does the chick need to be indoors? when is it safe to go out during the day?

Advice very much appreciated.

 

[Davidd]

Hello and welcome, you need to leave the hen with the chick- try not to disturb her especially if she is just hatching- did you move her inside with the egg starting to hatch- she will sit tight on the chick for the first day or so- to dry it and fluff it up so try to leave her to get on with it- place a low feed dish with some chick crumbs and a shallow water dish- not too deep or the chick will drown (if it falls in) near the hen and leave her be. Do you have a coop/run or broody coop for them to go into outside? She will look after the chick for 6 weeks and she should be with it all of the time- please don't leave it on its own. If you are putting them outside pleae put them in a secure run/coop on their own- with no other hens- they can go out once the hen has come off the chick- i.e once it is a day old.
regards, David

 

[Anonymous]

Hi David, thank you very much for the reply, I searched for an answer on the web before I found this site, and I was confused as I read that the chick had to stay inside for 6 weeks.
Maybe they were refering to incubated chicks without a mum hen and I didn't twig!

TWO MORE QUESTIONS?
I assume the mum hen will keep the chick warm under her inside the coup, so does the chick just scuttle around under the mum?

At what stage can I pick up and hold the chick without causing a problem?

Also I have put down chick food for the chick and mum seems to love eating it, if I put down corn feed for the mum is there a risk the chick will eat it what do I do ?

Yes we do have a coup and run but with 3 other hens in, so I am building a new coup and run - hence mum and chick inside, we had to bring her inside we had a situation where she was in her own nesting box then my very artful Appenzella found a way in through a gap and tried to attack the egg, so I brought her in and am going to seperate mum with chick in their own area.


I have put chickcrumbs down and water in a shallow lid.

Mum hen has just started picking up straw and making more of nest, she has also started eating and drinking again - it has been as if she has been in a trance for the last 21 days! She lost a lot of weight but was always content and looked healthy.

Many thanks

 

[Davidd]

Hi, just give them chick crumbs- even the mum- no corn- she will be fine on that- like i said in my other post after a day or so she will call the chick out and show it food/water. The chick will stay under mum for the first day or so- then gradually come out more and more- i wouldn't pick it up for a few days if you can help it- just so it settles with mum.
Yes, the hen will have lost weight - but now she is eating more she will regain it- just chick crumbs - no corn or pellets-
regards, David

 

[snifter]

Is she sitting on more eggs? If so leave her be to let the others hatch out also. She'll know when its time to get off the nest in a few days.