Comments on: tips for raising chicks

By: maureen

maureen — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:09:48 +0000

I bought fertilized eggs from Rachel when one of my 3 hens went broody. She sat on the eggs till they hatched, then she let one of the other hens look after the chicks. They all hang out together, and after a few days the 3 mothers all helped to look after them. Two grew into roosters, and the other two into the biggest hens I’ve ever seen.!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:23:23 +0000

Hi Nancy, I normally say keep them separate for about six weeks, which is what I do for mine. A friend of mine runs all hers together from the start and doesn’t seem to have problems although they have an enormous run so there are plenty of places to keep out of harm’s way. There’s always some sorting out initially when they are returned to the flock so do it after they’ve roosted up – often the mother hen will end up at the bottom of the pecking order even if she was at the top before she went away. Any rooster chicks will cause trouble once they start crowing – if you’re allowed to keep roosters only retain one with a flock. Hope this helps. Rachel

By: Nancy Pengelly

Nancy Pengelly — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 03:41:13 +0000

Hi Rachel, I have 3 week old chicks and their surrogate mum. We’ve kept them in a run away from our other 11 hens, but I’m wondering how much longer do we need to keep them separated? When should we let the mother back in with the others? This is my first time with chickens and babies so I really need some advice. Thanks, Nancy

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 22:31:10 +0000

Hi Angela, If it’s 48 hours since the first one hatched and the hen’s left the nest, you’ve got all the chicks you’ll get by now. Hope they thrive. Rachel

By: Angela

Angela — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 03:04:23 +0000

Ok another question??? 2 have hatched and 4 not, but today she got off the nest and was off for about 3-4 hours. Does that mean that she know the eggs aren’t going to hatch? Had a look at the eggs and they haven’t even started to hatch?? are they gonna’s???

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:26:52 +0000

Hi Angela, The others will be along in the next day or two – you can have a look underneath and see if any of the eggs are ‘pipped’ where the occupant is trying to break through. They won’t eat for the first 24 hours or so but make sure they can reach water and chick crumble. Mum will show them how to eat and drink. Rachel

By: Angela

Angela — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 21:17:42 +0000

Thanks for the advice. The move went well, and yesterday we saw 1 chick. She was sitting on 6. I can’t see any shells around anywhere. Would she still be sitting on them? Should lift her and see whats going on or just leave her for a couple of days.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 19:38:47 +0000

Hi Angela, It’s a good idea to move her otherwise the other hens may try to lay in the nest and / or push your broody off the eggs. It also tends to stop the other ones laying, or they lay somewhere else. Put her somewhere on her eggs where she’ll be warm and dry but has access to food and water. Make sure she’s not vulnerable to cats, dogs and stoats. You may need to lift her off the nest daily for her to relieve herself although she may rush out for a quick stroll on her own volition. It’s possible moving her will break her broodiness but it hasn’t happened to me. I use an old rabbit hutch on the lawn with the mesh cut out of the bottom so the chicks can learn to scratch when they hatch. An large tile over the top of the run gives an area which is dry but outside. I move it each day to give fresh grass. Bantams and mixed breed hens tend to have more instinct for mothering remaining, but I’ve used a couple of very attentive Rhode Island Reds as mums too.

By: Angela

Angela — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 07:53:53 +0000

Can I move a chook and eggs once she has been sitting on them. Im on day 4 and want to move her away from other hens. Any tips welcome as this is the first time trying to hatch chicks.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:16:20 +0000

Your best bet in New Zealand is to keep an eye on Trade Me for anyone with hens, particularly bantams, for sale. They often go broody in November or December. You can buy an incubator from Dominion Incubators (http://www.dominc.net/) in Hamilton. They also rent incubators.