New Chicks, Part 2: The Adoption
If you missed Part 1 of the adopted chick story, be sure to check it out here.
We put the chicks in the nest boxes with our broody hens! Here’s how it went down…
Last night at about 9:30, when it was plenty dark and all the chickens were in the coop for the night, we took the chicks out to the chicken pen. We set them on the ground (in their box) while we opened the nest box and took the eggs out from underneath the broody hens.
John (my 13-year-old son) held the nest box open while I handled the eggs and the chicks. I wanted to do it myself because the chickens are more familiar and comfortable with me.
Getting the eggs was harder than I expected, mainly because I was afraid of getting pecked. I reached under each one of them from behind and felt for eggs. Blackie only had four under her, because I took the rest of them from her when I was trying (unsuccessfully) to get her in the brooder box I made. She did have 15 eggs! The other chickens have been laying in the nest boxes while Blackie and Red were in there brooding, and I didn’t get them because I didn’t want to steal “babies” from an expectant mother. The broody birds get so fluffed up and spread out that I couldn’t see any of those eggs that were underneath. Red had ten eggs under her, and I think I disrupted her quite a bit while I took them all. She didn’t move or anything, but she made a lot of annoyed sounds. I didn’t get pecked, not even once.
Once all the eggs were out from underneath Blackie, it was time to give her chicks. I was nervous! I took a chick in each hand and set them behind Blackie. She started to peck at one of them! John and I watched, waiting to see if she would settle down or get more aggressive. After three or four pecks, John finally asked if we should grab the chick, but then Blackie calmed down and the chick disappeared underneath her. The other chick just laid down behind her. Blackie didn’t even seem to notice her laying back there.
Now for Red’s chicks. I took both chicks and set them behind her. She didn’t seem to notice them. The chicks seemed to know intuitively that they’re supposed to get underneath where it’s warm. They disappeared under Red and we couldn’t see either one of them. Red didn’t seem fazed at all. It seemed like she didn’t even know they were there. All we could do was wait until morning and hope they didn’t get pecked to death.
This was very anticlimactic. In my mind, I was expecting this beautiful, romantic interaction between mother and chick. I was expecting momma to hear the chicks and turn around in surprise and elation, and then open a wing invitingly as the chicks moseyed underneath. It wasn’t like that at all. No romance, just business.
The next morning, I went out first thing to check on them. I opened the nest box but couldn’t see any chicks. I was happy, because I figured there was a 50/50 chance I would finding bloodied, dead chicks in the corner of the nest box. If I couldn’t see them, they were probably underneath her and doing okay.
I opened the chicken door to let the other birds out, and then I opened the big front doors to get a better look in the nest box. The chicks started moving around and cheeping! I was happy to see that they were okay. I actually only saw one of the Americanas, but I was hopeful that the other one was sleeping under momma.
The Dominiques were really active! They were jumping around and having a good time. Blackie made some low growling sounds whenever I got too close, which I took as a good sign that she’s going to protect these babies.
I moved the green netting to let everyone get more freedom, and I brought some water and chick feed for them.
The little Dominiques jumped out of the nest box, but they couldn’t get back on the other side very easily. They figured it out eventually.
I’m so happy that everyone is doing okay! Now I just have to decide when to introduce them to the rest of the flock. I feel pretty good that Blackie and Red won’t let any of the other hens hurt them.
Man, I just love chicks. They are so darn cute. They hop around with so much energy, and they are very curious. They’re funny little animals.
Here are some more pictures and a video for you to check out. In the video, Red feeds her chicks. You have to watch!!! They are just too cute!
Here is Red feeding her two adopted chicks:
Just for fun, here are three of our other chickens enjoying some watermelon in the yard.