Incubation - Raising Poultry - page 272

theless vital that you do not treat the mother hen for mites and lice while she is incubat-
ing. Insecticide sprays and powders are harmful to the incubating eggs.
It is always best to treat the mother for parasites well in advance of incubation (see
chapter 25 , Flock Health) and then check her once the chicks are about a week old, when
the babies are stable and fairly mobile. If you have a regular maintenance program for
parasite control, you'll have no worries when it comes to incubation time. If you don't,
it's a good idea to get the parasites under control in the early part of spring so that when
the first hen goes broody, you're ready.
In light infestations of parasites, the mother hen is able to dust-bathe and keep the
situation under control, especially if you provide her with a bath of wood ashes or one
containing a little diatomaceous earth . But if she has a heavy infestation of mites or lice
— bugs all around the vent and under both wings and many eggs on the feather shafts
— and has young chicks, you can treat her, but go light on the toxic products for the
sake of the babies. Remember, her chicks snuggle in her feathers next to her body and
strong chemical residues can be just as harmful to their respiratory systems as they are
to the mites and lice.
If you're uncomfortable giving pesticide, try the dust bath treatment, but don't wait
more than a week or two before killing off the parasites, as they can drain the strength
of the mother and the babies rather quickly.
Adoptive Mothers
Broody hens can be used as adoptive mothers for hatchery-hatched chicks. This is a
tricky process and should be tested with care to be sure your adoptive hen truly accepts
the chicks. Some hens are natural mothers; they'll adopt just about anything and do
a wonderful job. Other hens immediately peck to death and toss aside, or sometimes
gobble up, chicks placed beneath them. If you plan to foster chicks out to a hen, it's al-
ways best to place eggs or fake eggs under the broody hen in the morning, and carefully
replace them with real chicks in the evening, without causing too much disturbance to
the hen.
To deposit the chicks under a hen, simply lift up the hen a few inches from the nest,
take the babies by handfuls, and place them under her. She will cluck and call to them
if she is receptive. Placing them by her side works for some; she will direct them under
her if she is a good mom.
WATERFOWL SURROGATES:
NOT SO SIMPLE