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mamjo_gw

urgent: broody hen leaving 1st hatched chick? What do I do?

mamjo
13 years ago

We have a hen who just hatched her first chick today. When I went out to check on her, I found the chick by the feeder peeping, while mom had returned to the nest. I took the chick and set it back in the nestbox w/ her. But I am wondering if I should have just taken it and put it under a heat lamp. I am worried that she isn't going to take care of it. She seemed oblivious to me putting the chick back with her. When I checked later, the chick was under her in the middle of the eggs that haven't hatched yet. The nest is at ground level, but there is quite a bit of straw in the coop. Is it possible the chick just couldn't get back to the nest? Or is this 1st time mom just clueless as to what to do? (I know I am!)

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