Hens and chicks - help needed
mjwillsey (zone 6b)
22 days ago
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mjwillsey (zone 6b)
22 days agoRelated Discussions
help with hens and chicks in shallow dish.
Comments (1)This is normal, mine do the same every year. Though we are not in the same zone, we are not that far off. I leave mine outside all year in pots (some shallow) and MOST of the time I do not have a problem....See MoreHELP !! Momma hen has abandoned 3rd chick.
Comments (11)Here's something you can try, Herringboned 28. Take one of the accepted babies and hold it gently until it screams bloody murder. Momma hen gets anxious and then almost frantic. Then put the late-hatcher and the screaming baby in with the mother at the same time. In my experience, momma is so intent on the screamer being returned to her that she never even notices that she is getting two for one. And once it's in there... well, hens can't count. This trick is easier where larger numbers of chicks with mom. In this case, with only two accepted chicks, it might work best if you kidnap both of them. If you wear something with loose sleeves you can tuck the third chick up your sleeve so that it is less obvious to the hen what you are up to. It should be easy to release it with the one you are holding in that hand. I take no credit for this method. Someone's kid thought it up and his mother posted it on one of the forums a long time ago. I thought it was cute and clever -- and so I remembered it when I needed it last summer. Worked like a charm... and the advantage over sneaking it under at night is you don't have to be up at the crack of dawn to make sure mom isn't pecking on it. You can just hang around for a bit at a civilized hour of the day. Towards evening might be the best time... that way they will soon sleep and the little chick will have time on its side to get used to life under a momma hen....See MoreWill the mom hen do everything needed for new chicks?
Comments (2)I will echo the above but also suggest that you move her to a part of the coop where the other chickens can't get to the chicks. Last spring I hatched out a bunch and didn't realize how close I was to hatch time until I went to collect eggs and found a dead baby on the floor. They will move around and get out of the nest box. Momma took care of everything after I moved the rest of her eggs and her to an area where they wouldn't be bothered by the others. Of course feed and water but it seems you have that covered. Good luck, they are SOOOO cute when they hatch like that! Lori...See MoreNeed source for hens and chicks
Comments (1)Hi, I've just got one new souce; the cheap ever: 99c store. They have cacti and succulent for 99c and couple days ago I found a box of hens & chicks. I grabbed a couple. Good luck. meli...See Moremjwillsey (zone 6b)
22 days agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
22 days ago41 North (Zone 7a/b, NE, coastal)
15 days agomjwillsey (zone 6b)
15 days agowoodrose
10 days ago41 North (Zone 7a/b, NE, coastal)
8 days agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
23 hours agomjwillsey (zone 6b)
11 hours ago
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)