Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jud Lewis-Mahon on July 4, 2011 at 11:18am

My understanding is that a lot of the mothering instincts have been bred out of laying hens. I'm not certain of specific breeds but I've heard of similar problems. Hand raising is probably your best bet.

Permalink Reply by Carolyn Thompson Hammack on July 4, 2011 at 2:15pm

i always trust nature and the mamma to do the right thing, and it usually works.  we have had great luck having our hens raise our chicks...and it is so much less work for me.  if the other hens get too aggressive, you could always take the mama and the peeps into their own space.  the mama teaches the chicks to forage, keeps them warm, teaches them social skills, and so much more that they miss out on if you take them away from her.

but, are you ordering your speckled sussex peeps, or is one of your hens hatching them?  if you have a hen hatching them, she will most likely care for them, but if you are ordering peeps and putting them in with your hens, unless they are already broody, they most likely won't care for them.

Permalink Reply by Trevor Branch on July 5, 2011 at 6:32am

Thanks, the sussex peeps are on order and we're going to hand raise them.  When they're older though we're going to breed them.  We're building our brooder with that in mind, but when the time comes we'd like to have mama raise them, makes less work for us!  I suppose whichever hens are indeed protective we'll keep breeding, and any that aren't we can have for dinner!

Permalink Reply by Pat on July 4, 2011 at 6:48pm

I've heard that roosters will help protect the chicks when the mother hen isn't at their side. I'm curious if others have seen that work (we don't have a rooster).

Permalink Reply by Trevor Branch on July 5, 2011 at 7:36am

On a side note, I've read some about breeding, how would a person come up with a chicken that is 25% of one breed and 75% of another?  I'm guessing breeding a cross of the two breeds with a pure of either breed, is that about right?  Been a long time since I looked at genetic mathematics, but that makes sense.  I'm curious how a cross breed of my sussex roo and either leghorn or barred rocks would turn out.

Permalink Reply by Janet Blair on July 5, 2011 at 8:39am

When I buy chicks from the feed store, etc, I always keep them separated from the rest of the flock until they are fully feathered.... they are old enough to escape crabby hens and other dangers and I feed them chick starter for a good strong nutritional beginning.  If you have a broody hen, she will take care of her babies pretty well.  Then, you just have to be sure they get enough to eat. Older hens will eat all the chick starter if they can get to it. Janet

Permalink Reply by Trevor Branch on July 5, 2011 at 11:28am

Thanks.  I saw during the coop tour someone had a section of the coop open with only a small opening so just the younger pullets could get in to the chick starter.  I may do that.  I'm all for letting mama do the work she was meant to do though, and give the wifey a break since she takes care of the chicks mostly.

Permalink Reply by jen-E on July 5, 2011 at 11:47am

As above, you will need a hen to go "broody" before you can get her to accept & raise chicks. I had no trouble giving extra chicks to a broody earlier this year, but I have heard stories of broodies rejecting or even killing chicks. It had been so much easier having the broody raise the chicks. I would love to find a way to encourage her to go broody again next year.