Hens and chicks - help needed
mjwillsey (zone 6b)
last month
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mjwillsey (zone 6b)
last monthRelated Discussions
adding 2 chicks to hen with 2 chicks
Comments (4)There are two methods that MAY work... although they are risky with that much difference in age between the chicks. Still, I successfully added a couple of chicks that were about five days younger than the others using what I like to call the "two for one" method. A kid thought this one up and his mother posted it on the forum a long time ago. One bright kid! Put the two orphaned chicks in a bucket (not a clear one) or similar container. Kidnap the hen's current babies and add them to the bucket. (A butterfly net works great for catching them.) The stolen chicks will set up a frantic peeping once they cannot see Mama... and Mama will fuss and scold and generally work herself up into a tizzy. The more upset she is, the better. When you get to the point when it looks like Mama's eyeballs will pop out of her head, lower the bucket and let out all four chicks. Typically Mama will be confused and know something is different, but will not be able to figure out what, since hens cannot count. And she is so relieved to have her babies back that she doesn't much care and accepts them all. But be ready to pull the younger chicks out if she starts hurting them. I've done this a few times and never had it fail. Hens are birdbrains. I THINK they can tell the difference between "one" and "more than one"... but not the difference between two and three or four. The more the chicks look alike, the better chance of success. The other method is the tried and true "wait until dark" method. You simply sneak them under her with her own when she is asleep and she assumes they are all hers when she wakes up. If it doesn't work, however, she may harm or kill the newcomers unless you are on the spot early to check on them. Forget the Vicks or other scent confusers. Chickens don't use scent to identify their young. They rely on sound and sight and situation. "They are under my wings so they must be mine." Good luck! And please post an update so we know how it turns out!...See MoreChicks of different ages together & how many chicks per hen?
Comments (3)You can try slipping the new chicks under mom during the night, so when she wakes up she is a MOM. :) Other people (Sheila?) have reported success by taking AWAY mama's two or three chicks for a few minutes (let mom and chicks get distressed a bit and holler for each other), then returning her chicks PLUS the new ones to mom. Chickens can't count, so the babies were all accepted. But that was with a hen that had more than one chick, so be careful. Whichever method you use, be careful and watch the chicks like a hawk. Be ready to swoop in and rescue the babies if the hen attacks them. I've tried to get hens to adopt chicks in the past, and while the chicks were kinda willing, the hens would freak out and RUN from the baby--all I could figure was that the hen thought she was encroaching on another hens' babies, and wanted to get the heck OUT of there before an angry mama got back. Hens can normaly handle a clutch of 5-7 chicks. More than that and she may not be able to keep them all warm enough or watch them properly when they are out in the yard and active. Watch the other birds in your flock, they can sometimes get aggressive and/or jealous of the new family and attack them--and mama hen can't be everywhere at once to protect every chick. Velvet ~:>...See MoreHelp ID this 'hens and chicks'? PIC
Comments (2)You're right: it is definitely not a Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum sp.) I wouldn't expect it to be hardy in you zone either....See MoreNeed Hens & Chicks Help
Comments (10)Semps are pretty tough when they're established. They aren't particularly picky, as long as the soil is fast draining. I've been using maybe 20 percent commercial succulent mix, and the rest equal amounts of perlite, gravel, and coarse builders sand. But, I've also planted them in the native soil around the roots of my trees without any augmentation and they've done fine. I don't water or fertilize any of my semps. But, I've only had them from the spring at the earliest. I don't think they need a lot of fertilizer- I don't plan on feeding them anytime soon....See Moremjwillsey (zone 6b)
last monthgardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)