I have a hen who hatched out 4 chicks last weekend, and they are in an 8 x 10 enclosure that is within the fenced yard. So they are separated from the main flock, but everyone can interact through the fence. Mom is a great mom with these chicks.
I have a second broody who is a game hen that I rescued just over a week ago (she was abandoned when her owner moved) that is sitting on eggs in a separate enclosure within the main chicken coop. I put the eggs under her last weekend, so they will hatch in 2 weeks.
My question is this: I would like to bring broody 2 with her newly hatched chicks into the 8 x 10' enclosure and give them their own little house when these chicks hatch. So each hen/chicks would have their own house to go to at night, but would share the enclosure. The chicks would be 3 weeks apart in age.
So I'm wondering if anyone's done this, and if the hens would tolerate this. Neither hen has ever seen the other...they do NOT know each other. I'm thinking that this would be a great way to integrate the chicks, and also an easier way to integrate the group into the flock. They would have plenty of room in the enclosure to grow till they're all big enough to meet the others in my flock. In fact, there will be more chicks than adults by far. But I have no idea how the 2 hens would react to each other and I don't want to put anyone in danger.
There is plenty of room for the hen w/ chicks in the coup for them to grow till they're several weeks old. But what I like about the ones that are outside is that mamma has taught them to forage since the very start and they are really tough, smart little chicks. In the coop there is only pine shavings, and they don't get sunshine or have to come out of the rain or anything. If need be, I can make a second enclosure outside for the new group, but thought I'd ask the question. I appreciate any input from you more experienced folks.
I have a second broody who is a game hen that I rescued just over a week ago (she was abandoned when her owner moved) that is sitting on eggs in a separate enclosure within the main chicken coop. I put the eggs under her last weekend, so they will hatch in 2 weeks.
My question is this: I would like to bring broody 2 with her newly hatched chicks into the 8 x 10' enclosure and give them their own little house when these chicks hatch. So each hen/chicks would have their own house to go to at night, but would share the enclosure. The chicks would be 3 weeks apart in age.
So I'm wondering if anyone's done this, and if the hens would tolerate this. Neither hen has ever seen the other...they do NOT know each other. I'm thinking that this would be a great way to integrate the chicks, and also an easier way to integrate the group into the flock. They would have plenty of room in the enclosure to grow till they're all big enough to meet the others in my flock. In fact, there will be more chicks than adults by far. But I have no idea how the 2 hens would react to each other and I don't want to put anyone in danger.
There is plenty of room for the hen w/ chicks in the coup for them to grow till they're several weeks old. But what I like about the ones that are outside is that mamma has taught them to forage since the very start and they are really tough, smart little chicks. In the coop there is only pine shavings, and they don't get sunshine or have to come out of the rain or anything. If need be, I can make a second enclosure outside for the new group, but thought I'd ask the question. I appreciate any input from you more experienced folks.