Claire Thompson
A mother hen is an excellent surrogate for baby chicks. Broody hens are dedicated mothers that will protect their chicks from other flock members and teach them how to look for food. They also keep the chicks warm, making brooders unnecessary. However, in rare cases, a mother hen may reject her hatchlings, requiring you to set up a brooder and act as a surrogate. Before introducing chicks to a broody hen, it's crucial to ensure she is committed to being broody and has a suitable nesting pen. Additionally, it's best to introduce the chicks during the day, allowing you to monitor the situation and ensure the hen accepts them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to introduce chicks to mother hen | First thing in the morning, never at night |
| Brooder box | A cardboard box is a good option, as it's easy to compost and replace |
| Space | One square foot of nesting space for the mother hen, two square feet per chick |
| Food and water | Low to the ground, securely fastened |
| Eggs | Fertile eggs are not required; golf balls or smooth stones can be used |
| Number of chicks | No more than the hen has space for |
| Hen's health | Parasite-free, good physical condition, plenty of fat reserves |
| Nesting box | Safe for chicks, not too high up |
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What You'll Learn
Ensure the mother hen is committed to being broody
To ensure that a mother hen is committed to being broody, you must first understand what it means for a hen to be broody. A broody hen is one that has the natural instinct to sit on eggs and hatch them, even if no fertilized eggs are present. This behaviour, while natural, can be taxing on the hen's health if not managed properly. Some hens may think they want to be broody, then give up on the task and abandon the nest a few days later.
To test if a hen is truly committed to being broody, you can try moving her to a different location. A truly broody hen won't mind being moved to a different location than what she chose. It will take her a few minutes to get used to the new location, but she should settle in quickly. The new brooding pen should be spacious, well-lit with a dark nesting area, and as natural as possible to make it more appealing. It should also be located in a temperate location, ideally above 55°F.
Another way to test a hen's commitment is to observe her behaviour. A broody hen who is committed to her nest will often be a reliable mother in the years to come. She will pull feathers from her breast to line the nest and create a bare patch of skin to provide heat and moisture for incubating. She will also only leave the nest 1-2 times a day to eat, drink and relieve herself.
Once a hen has committed to the incubation process, she will take care of the eggs as she knows what's best for them. Your responsibility is to provide the resources for her to take care of herself. This includes ensuring she has ample food and water, as well as maintaining a consistent environment for about three weeks, which is the incubation period. You should refresh her water every day and provide probiotics or electrolytes periodically.
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Prepare a brooding pen and nesting box
If your chickens are kept on pasture, it is best to leave the mother hen with the rest of the flock. This is the least stressful option for her, and she will be able to protect her chicks from other adult birds. If you keep your birds in a more restricted area, it is better to separate the mother hen and put her in her own brooder box.
When setting up a brooder box for a mother hen and her chicks, you will need to provide her with the right resources, and she will do the rest. The basic needs of a broody hen are food, water, a clean nesting spot, and a place to stretch her legs. The brooder box should be large enough to accommodate the mother hen and her chicks, with a recommended space of two square feet per chick. The brooder box should also be placed in a secluded area to make the mother hen feel secure and calm, and to encourage egg production.
The brooder box should be kept clean, with fresh bedding provided regularly. Simple bedding options include straw and wood shavings, or you can use store-bought nesting box liners. To prevent pests, you can use aromatic herbs such as lavender, mint, rosemary, or thyme, or essential oils like eucalyptus and lemongrass.
It is important to ensure that the brooder box is safe from predators, especially rats. You can use a cardboard box as a brooder box, as it is easy to compost and replace when cleaning.
Additionally, you can provide a heating source for the chicks, such as a heating plate or heating pad, which can simulate a mother hen's warmth and provide a natural experience for the chicks.
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Provide resources like food and water
Providing food and water is essential for both the mother hen and her chicks. Here are some detailed instructions for doing this effectively:
Space Requirements:
The amount of space needed depends on the number of chicks. As a general rule, allow for two square feet of space per chick. The mother hen only needs about one square foot of nesting space while she is sitting on her eggs. Once the chicks arrive, ensure there is enough room for them to move around and access food and water easily.
Food and Water Placement:
Place the feeder and water sources at ground level or low enough for the chicks to reach. Secure them to prevent the mother hen from knocking them over as she teaches her chicks to eat and drink. As the chicks grow, you can gradually raise the feeder and water sources, ensuring the smallest chick can still access them.
Types of Food:
You can feed the mother hen and her chicks chick starter grower feed. This provides the necessary nutrients for both the hen and her growing chicks. The mother hen won't lay eggs while raising her chicks, so the chick starter feed is suitable for her as well.
Watering Options:
Provide clean water regularly, and consider using a chick waterer designed to attach to a mason jar, as mentioned in one source.
Pest Control:
Pests like mites can be a problem for broody hens that don't get out to dust bathe and eat. Move the mother hen and her chicks to a different brooder box or coop if necessary to address pest issues.
Bedding and Nesting:
Provide soft bedding, such as newspaper or paper towels, in the bottom of the crate or brooder box. Ensure the mother hen has a nest and some space to move around. You can use a wire dog crate or a large plastic shell, placed in a corner of the coop, to give them a sense of security and protection from other flock members.
By following these instructions, you can effectively provide food and water to the mother hen and her chicks, contributing to their overall health and well-being.
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Move the mother hen and chicks at night
Moving the mother hen and chicks at night is a delicate process that requires careful planning and execution. Here are some detailed instructions to ensure a smooth transition:
Prepare the Brooder Area:
Before transferring the mother hen and her chicks, ensure the brooder area is set up and ready. This includes having a suitable brooder box or coop prepared with nesting materials, such as straw or wood shavings. The brooder should be spacious enough to accommodate the mother hen and provide ample room for her chicks to move around. It should also be located in a safe and secure area, protected from potential predators and extreme weather conditions.
Timing is Crucial:
Choose a night when you can dedicate your time to the process. Moving the mother hen and chicks after dusk is ideal, as chickens have poor night vision, and the darkness will help keep the mother hen calm and reduce any stress or aggression during the transition. Ensure you have adequate lighting, such as a flashlight or lantern, to guide you through the process without disturbing the birds.
Gently Transfer the Mother Hen:
Carefully pick up the mother hen and handle her with gentle firmness. Speak to her softly and calmly to keep her relaxed. Slowly and carefully transport her to the prepared brooder area, being mindful of any chicks that may be under her. If there are chicks present, carefully lift them and place them together in a separate container, keeping them warm and comfortable during the move.
Introduce the Chicks:
Once the mother hen is settled in the brooder, introduce the chicks one by one. Allow the mother hen to hear the chick's peeping for a few minutes before gently sliding each chick under her feathers. If she is sitting on any eggs, remove them as you place each chick. Be cautious and gentle during this process, as some mother hens may become protective or defensive.
Monitor the Situation:
After placing the chicks with the mother hen, quietly observe their interaction for the next hour to ensure she accepts them. Check on them frequently over the next few days to make sure things are progressing smoothly. Be prepared to intervene and separate any rejected chicks if necessary, providing them with a backup brooder and heat lamp to keep them warm and safe.
By following these steps, you can successfully move a mother hen and her chicks into a brooder at night, creating a safe and comfortable environment for their ongoing care and growth.
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Monitor the mother hen and chicks
Monitoring the mother hen and her chicks is crucial to ensure their health and safety. Here are some detailed instructions to help you with this process:
Before the Chicks Arrive:
Firstly, you need to confirm that your hen is committed to being broody and has the necessary instincts to care for her chicks. Give her about a week to observe her behaviour. During this time, place eggs (fertile or infertile) or even smooth stones or balls under her to stimulate her maternal instincts. A healthy broody hen will have sufficient fat reserves, be parasite-free, and be in good physical condition. Silkies, Cochins, Brahmas, and Orpingtons are popular breeds known for their broodiness.
Setting Up the Brooder:
You can choose to let the mother hen brood in her chosen nesting box or move her to a new brooder box. If you keep your chickens in a pasture, it's less stressful for the hen to remain with the flock, and she can protect her chicks from other adult birds. However, if your chickens are in a restrained area, it's best to separate the mother hen and put her in a brooder box within her brooding pen. This separation allows you to give her specific eggs to hatch and makes it easier to introduce chicks to her.
Introducing the Chicks:
Always introduce the chicks during the day, preferably in the morning, so you can monitor the situation. Never add them at night, as there is a small chance the mother hen might reject a chick, and you don't want to find a chilled or dead chick in the morning. Before introducing the chicks, it's a good idea to get the mother hen and her nest into a dog crate or brooder box on the floor of the coop for the first few days to ensure a smooth transition.
After the Chicks Arrive:
Once the chicks arrive, ensure they have adequate space, about two square feet per chick. Protect them from predators, especially rats. Provide food and water for both the mother hen and the chicks, ensuring the feeders and waterers are low enough for the chicks to reach and fastened securely so the mother hen doesn't knock them over. Monitor the mother hen's behaviour to ensure she doesn't show aggression towards the chicks, which is rare but can happen, especially with first-time mothers.
Ongoing Monitoring:
Check in from time to time to ensure all is well. Be vigilant for any signs of mites in the coop, as the treatment for mites is not safe for chicks, and you may need to move the mother hen and her chicks to a different location. Continue to observe the mother hen and chicks as they interact and grow, providing any necessary support or adjustments to their environment.
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Frequently asked questions
A broody hen will stop laying eggs and will want to sit in her nest all day. She will only get off her nest once per day to eat, drink, and relieve herself.
You can't force a hen to be broody, but you can encourage her by giving her eggs to sit on. Give her about a week to see if she's committed.
In rare cases, a mother hen will reject her chicks. If this happens, you will need to be prepared to care for the chicks yourself. Set up a brooder and act as their surrogate mother.
First, make sure your hen is committed to being broody. Then, pick up the chicks one at a time and show them to her. Let her see and hear each chick.
Using a mother hen is less work for you! She will keep the chicks warm, protect them, and teach them how to find food.
