How to Take Chicks From a Mother Hen

Allowing a hen to sit on fertilized eggs is the natural way to hatch a brood without resorting to heat lamps. If the eggs don't all hatch at the same time, you might lose some fertilized eggs when the hen leaves the nest to take care of the already hatched chicks. Under normal circumstances, it's best to leave chicks with the mother hen for about six weeks or until they're entirely covered with feathers. You can also remove chicks from a mother hen so she'll stay on the nest and hatch the rest of the eggs.

Things You'll Need

  • Work gloves
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wait 48-72 hours after the first chick has hatched to remove any chicks, as long as the hen is primarily staying on the nest. Chicks can survive that long without food and water while the hen waits to hatch the rest of the eggs.

    • 2

      Visually examine the chicks to make sure they're dry and fluffed.

      Never handle wet chicks.

    • 3

      Put on work gloves to protect your hands from any pecking.

    • 4

      Reach in quickly and lightly grasp the chick, pinning its wings so it doesn't flail.

      Remove it to a prepared area with a heat lamp. Chicks can't survive without heat or a mother hen until they are fully feathered.