I have just taken one of my hens away from her babies, she has plucked the down off her 3 eldest chicks.

I have food to hand rear them if I have too but was hoping that Dad would be okay..What do you think? and has anyone had a dad bring up 4 babies by himself?

I have given the youngest to Princess because she has taken babies before and it is fine...

I am just worried about the others...I have never left babies with dad before!

thanks

How old are the babies? How has Dad been til now (feeding etc)? Dad should be all right, but I'll let someone else put your mind at rest

over here there is a spray to put on the chicks to stop the hen from plucking and its supposed to be very effective i just cat remember the name also i have heard some of the lads in my club who use the clear liquid to stop you from biting there nails and say it works although i havnt used it,as for the dad im not sure i havnt really taken the hen away that early apart from when one has died and the father didnt raise them

How old are the babies?  How has Dad been til now (feeding etc)?  Dad should be all right, but I'll let someone else put your mind at rest

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Hi lin, chick one is 12 days

' ' two is 10 days

' ' 3 is 9 days

and 4 is 7 days old...

I have just been out there they are fed but he is not staying in there with them for the night! He is a good dad but he is looking for his hen...

 

 

over here there is a spray to put on the chicks to stop the hen from plucking and its supposed to be very effective i just cat remember the name also i have heard some of the lads in my club who use the clear liquid to stop you from biting there nails and say it works although i havnt used it,as for the dad im not sure i havnt really taken the hen away that early apart from when one has died and the father didnt raise them

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Thanks hath,

I have heard of the spray but the vet didn't say anything to me today about it.. Do you think I should foster the rest out ?? I think there is to many thats all, and I am putting the other mums and dads under alot of strain..

 

the other 3 pairs have 6, 7, and 5 with 1 egg left.

the other 3 pairs have 6, 7, and 5 with 1 egg left.

 

thats quite a lot i would try the spray if you can find it

oh no, it doesnt sound good if dads not staying with them at night. it sounds like he will use his time to find his hen. i hope it goes well, but you will need to make a decision quickly, they are young and can go downhill very fast. has dad been feeding them during the day? i am pretty sure at that age, they still eat all night too. keep us posted

Can you hand rear them yourself? If they're not being kept warm at night then they wont survive will they?

I can hand feed them but I am not confindent, you have to not get it in their wind pipe and OMG what if I do?? They will die in pain..

 

Good news though I have put them back with dad today and he is feeding them so I might take them in at night and put them back in the morning.. I did feed them a little last night.

They are full little ones with dad at the moment so that is good! I will bring them in again tonight..

 

I don't turn the light off untill 8 or 9pm at night and will put them back around 5 or 6am with the light on...

 

fingers crossed

Good luck!! i hope everything works!!

I have just been out to check, and all is going well. The babies are warm but I will still bring them in. Dad knows that I am going to take them, he never comes near me and when I was checking the babies he came in and just nibble at my fingers softly..

 

You know I only took mum away yesterday and the little pin feathers are starting to come through and the little one is getting some fluff I can see the different already.

The one I have fostered out is doing well also!

 

I'm so glad that everything is working out well!! Keep up the good work daddy!!

Just an update,

Dad is doing the best job! I am so happy it is all working out so far. He feeds them all day and I take them in at night. They are growing and their feathers are growing too.. :oliveb: He stays with them for alot longer I didn't bring them in till 1am the other night when I found him out sleeping.. and I brought them in about 11 last night.

WELL DONE DADDY!