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Barnyard Buddies:  broody hen question  |
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RosesAreRed
True Blue Farmgirl
62 Posts
Laurie
Lehigh Acres
Fl
USA
62 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 21 2013 : 12:05:37 PM
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I have Old English Game birds. My hen has a 3 1/2 month old chick (also a hen) who is very attached to her momma. That's very sweet, but mom has gone broody again, and baby refuses to leave mom. I have even caught the chick sitting on the egg. I shoo her out, she hops right back in. My rooster is about to lose his mind. His girl and chick are nesting in the coop, and he is all by himself lost without them. He wanders around, finds food, picks it up, drops it, calls out, picks it up, drops it, calls out, and they don't come to him. He goes in and out of the coop all day. He gets very excited when Mom and chick come out for the daily eating and bathing. Poor guy. ANYWAY... My question is... Is it unusual that the older chick will brood with mom? Is it healthy for the chick to stay in the box like this? Has anyone else experienced this in their flock. Poor Mom, can't lay an egg alone, and now can't brood alone. Poor girl.
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2013 : 12:51:33 PM
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is the chick useing her mom to protect herself from the roo, and if you are gonna be hatching the eggs the hen lays, you might want to think about tradeing the chick for a non-related one...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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sissarge
True Blue Farmgirl
502 Posts
Linda
Montgomery
Texas
USA
502 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2013 : 1:13:26 PM
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| So your Roo only has one lady? So the baby might be lost without the other one out and about. I once had bantys that would do this, until, I got more bantys, and then the girls would hang together, while one would be broody, and believe me the bantys are broody little creatures. And Tina is right, seems 31/2 month is a little young for the Roo to mess with, but if he is being cruel, then that might be the reason she is staying with mom. Good luck, keep us posted. Farmgirl #946 Linda |
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1149 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1149 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2013 : 08:42:33 AM
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I agree. Usually mom will run off the baby when she goes broody. In this case, baby is hiding with mom, likely to stay away from the male (who will soon be attempting to mate with her). Sounds like a good excuse to get some more chickens to me, lol. :0) I love OEGBs...I have several myself. I'd recommend getting at least a couple more hens.
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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Barnyard Buddies: broody hen question |
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broody hen question
