[Helencus]

My neighbour came over this evening to tell me my missing ex bat hen is nested under the bush in her garden and she spotted her with a chick today! Really surprised but we can't get at her so I reckon given the time of year the chick will die outside. Do you think I should try to get under and get them out Saturday when I have plenty of daylight to do it or let them be and see what nature decides? Surprised no local cat or fox has had her she's been missing for weeks and I thought that's what had happened.

[jaykay]

Mum will keep the chick warm, so it should be fine. But if she was mine, I would root them out on Sat and get them to somewhere safer 

[doganjo]

Mum will keep the chick warm, so it should be fine. But if she was mine, I would root them out on Sat and get them to somewhere safer 

This being only Wednesday I personally wouldn't wait till then - they could both be nabbed by dog or fox.  Get them in tomorrow morning at first light while she is still a bit dozy.

[Plantoid]

My neighbour came over this evening to tell me my missing ex bat hen is nested under the bush in her garden and she spotted her with a chick today! Really surprised but we can't get at her so I reckon given the time of year the chick will die outside. Do you think I should try to get under and get them out Saturday when I have plenty of daylight to do it or let them be and see what nature decides? Surprised no local cat or fox has had her she's been missing for weeks and I thought that's what had happened.

 Lay a thin trail of corn or pellets  from the bush " scatter a teaspoon towards the bird " and lead the trail into a big cardboard box that is supported on a stick that has twine tied to it .

Add a bit of wood to the top of the box so that when chook goes in  to get the food it will fall on her as you pull the stick out .... then play the waiting game .

 Or make a temp pen with a swinging gate on a long cord , again make a food trail and have a shelter for the hen and chick with food inside it.

Slowly slowly cachee the chicken and chick ...to misquote an expression

[Sylvia]

Good luck I don't know whether to say "Dear of her" or "Silly old sod"

[Helencus]

Well went out this morning and there was mom and babies on my neighbours path. Scooped them all up and popped them in the stable with a cardboard box with straw in, plenty of food and water. Seem to all be ok. Looked under the bush and there's about 6 eggs there still.. Seems she was determined to hatch a few..
I plan to leave her to it, she's earnt the right to have a go at raising them I reckon.

[doganjo]

Well went out this morning and there was mom and babies on my neighbours path. Scooped them all up and popped them in the stable with a cardboard box with straw in, plenty of food and water. Seem to all be ok. Looked under the bush and there's about 6 eggs there still.. Seems she was determined to hatch a few..
I plan to leave her to it, she's earnt the right to have a go at raising them I reckon.

Glad you got her in OK.  I like a happy ending  Did you put the 6 eggs in with her too?

[jaykay]

That's great, I'm glad you were able to catch them and keep them safe 

[Helencus]

Yes good she's in. No Annie we couldn't get the other eggs out, when I say she was under the bush she was way way back and I just can't get under there.

[doganjo]

Yes good she's in. No Annie we couldn't get the other eggs out, when I say she was under the bush she was way way back and I just can't get under there.

Pity you weren't closer - I train my dogs to retrieve using eggs.  Ensures they have a soft mouth!

[Roxy]

Must be the warmer weather making the chicks hatch at this time of year.  We had 11 hatch outside  last week.
Left her a couple of days then brought them all in, for fear of my farm cats.  Apparantly a broody hen on her nest is ok with foxes, the hen loses the smell which would attact a fox to her.  I have had a few hens sit out anad hatch eggs ok, one was on a railway enbankment, covered in foxes!!

The chicks will be fine with the hen sitting on them - you put your hand under and feel the chicks, if she will let you - they will be lovely and cosy standing under there!!

[Anke]

Must be the warmer weather making the chicks hatch at this time of year.

Oh well that explains why one of mine has decided to go broody again? I thought she is just completely off her rocker, as she sat most patiently (on an empty nest - I had too many hens already this summer) for most of the summer!

Is it temperature rather than daylight that makes them broody? After all quite a few have stopped laying by now (even though we do give them extra light in the evening), as it is dark by 5pm now.

[Hopewell]

We've had a hen go broody and sit on eggs under one of our sheds. She appeared with quite a few chicks in the rain and is now somewhere much safer. I certainly hadn't expected a broody so late in the year but it seems we aren't the only ones.