There was an unfortunate unforseen fight in my avairy this morning.

 

The result was one dead chick[RIP] And two very sore hens.

T

he mother of three chicks[and three more eggs] had her beak split and I don't think she is able to fed her chiks anymore. The father has taken over feeding them. The smallest bub was only hatched this morning . Is it okay to let the father take over the feeding? So far he is doing a pretty good job. Do I need to step in and help him. Or should i wait and see if he can handle it on his own?

 

Thanks for any advice. These are my first chicks!

Do you have any other hens with babies? If you do put them under her.

The new hatching probably won't make it if the mother can't feed it as for the first days the mother feeds 'crop milk' to the baby as it cannot yet take seed. The father cannot produce crop milk.

So if:

1. mother cannot feed baby crop milk

2. no other feeding mums

I'd suggest trying to syringe feed the baby or if you know another breeder with young give the baby to them to put under a hen.

awww geeze.. so sorry to hear about the fight... I hope your little ones will be okay, and also the hen as well.

 

sorry I can't give you any advice on feeding the chicks.

Well since the only other hen nesting is the one that attcked the other chik I desided to give them a fed lastngiht myself and then put them back out with mum for the night.

This morning that are looking strong. but again a little hungary. I'll give mum and dad a chance to fed them but if they don't ill fed them and put them back again. I'm hoping that once mum is feeling a bit better she will take over the feeding again. I can't imagine the hand fed being as good as mothers fed.