The Importance of Mothers by Bill Crain of Safe Haven Farm Sanctuary 10 February 2022 The Importance of Mothers by Bill Crain of Safe Haven Farm Sanctuary As published on All-Creatures.org Photo by Donna Scott Every spring our farm sanctuary receives one or two calls a day from people who would like us to adopt their young chickens or ducks. They usually purchased the animals from a farm supply store like Tractor Supply. The babies looked so cute pipping away under heat lamps, the customers couldn’t resist taking them home. But they discovered that caring for the animals was more trouble than they anticipated. In June, we also receive several calls — about twice a week — from schoolteachers. They explain that they ordered fertilized eggs from a company to show their children about hatching and development. The children watched over the eggs and babies, keeping them warm under heat lamps. But now the school year is ending, and the teachers cannot find the hatchlings permanent homes. The teachers, like the other callers, hope we can take them in. But our sanctuary is typically filled to the brim with chickens and ducks. We rarely have room for more. Other sanctuaries are usually at full capacity, too. We give people ideas for finding homes, but frequently the chicks and ducklings are simply abandoned. People tell us that they have seen them on the roadsides and in woods. Our sanctuary, working with Dr. Karen Davis of United Poultry Concerns, is trying to make the public aware of the fate of so many of these young animals. Inspired by a concern raised by Dr. Davis, our sanctuary also encourages people to recognize that the babies are growing up without mothers. Most of the chickens and ducks we have adopted have been motherless. But a few have had mothers, and these babies have shown us what the others have missed. For one thing, mothers provide warmth and comfort. Heat lamps can keep babies warm, but they cannot provide the full comfort a baby receives when nestled under a mother’s feathers. True, motherless chicks and ducklings huddle together, but they are too small to substitute for a mother’s body. In addition, mothers offer protection. When a baby dives underneath a mother’s feathers, the baby hides from threats in his or her surroundings. A baby under a heat lamp is always exposed. As babies grow, mothers protect them by making sure they don’t roam too far. This was clearly demonstrated on our farm by a chicken whose daughter was congenitally lame and unusually small. The mother always kept her tiny child very close by. When she felt the youngster had wandered too far, she rushed over, gave her child a peck, and nudged her back. In the barn, the mother’s actions kept her child from venturing into areas where a turkey or goat might inadvertently step on her. Outdoors, the hen’s behavior prevented the youngster from going too far to get back in case a predator appeared. Animal researchers have found that chicken hens display an innate rescuing instinct, and we also have seen this on our farm. When a chick has fallen or got stuck in a bush, the chick has emitted a high-pitch distress call that prompted the hen to rush to the baby’s aid. Our motherless chicks are more helpless. They are more alone in the world. Teachers want students to learn about animal birth and growth. This is a great goal, but students can only learn so much from motherless babies. They don’t learn how babies hide in their mother’s feathers, how mothers keep their babies nearby, or how mothers rescue them. Although a farm sanctuary offers many opportunities to learn about animal behavior, the ideal setting is a species’ natural environment — the wild. On our farm, the setting that is the most open and wild is our large pond. Among the animals there, the most visible are mallard ducks, and I have spent hours watching them. On several occasions, I saw a mother lead her babies to a shore where they energetically pecked for food. They acted like they were starving. But sometimes, for reasons unknown to me, the mother suddenly went into the water and began to swim away. Every time, the ducklings stopped foraging and followed her into the pond. They obviously wanted to eat, but the urge to follow their mother was stronger. If we were able to hold a conversation with them, I’m sure they would tell us, “Nothing is more important than my mother.” Bill Crain is the founder, with his wife Ellen Crain, of Safe Haven Farm Sanctuary in Poughquag, New York. He is the author of an inspiring new book titled Forever Young: How Six Great Individuals Have Drawn upon the Powers of Childhood and How We can Follow Their Lead. Bill is a professor emeritus of psychology at The City College of New York. United Poultry Concerns is a nonprofit organization that promotes the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl. Don't just switch from beef to chicken. Go Vegan. www.UPC-online.org View this article online United Poultry Concerns | PO Box 150, Machipongo, VA 23405 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!