3 chicks under 2 broody hens - questions!

[Missbc]

The broody hens have been broody for three weeks. I bought some day old chicks yesterday and slipped two of them under one hen and one under the other hen last night after dark.

This morning, all seemed well. I carved out an area in the hen house for each hen/chick(s). Each section has food and chick starter. There isn’t a way in/out unless I let them out. I’ve checked on them throughout the day and they are doing great- popping in and out underneath their momma.

My main question, really, is what point do I remove the partitions and let the hens out and about with the chicks? There’s lots of room in the enclosed run but I haven’t set up any sort of hiding spots for the chicks as I assume momma hens will take care of their chicks. (Right?)

That being said, my inside run had two parts with a door between if needed. But... if I do that, then the chicks and mommas can’t go into the hen house at night. I can set up kennels for them to snuggle in at bight

Suggestions? Words of wisdom? I’ve always broken the broody after two weeks using a cage. This year I decided chicks would be better.

I probably should’ve figured this out before now...

(The Black australorp has two blue/red Wyandotte chicks and the very small golden leghorn has a buff Orpington chick.)

 

[Alaskan]

It is probably safest to keep them locked into their tiny areas for a few days until they are well bonded, and the chicks are good at running about.

Then..... is your run chick safe? No holes for them to pop out? Etc?

If your run and coop are safe, then pick a day when you aren't busy (after chicks and moms have bonded, and chicks are good at running... maybe 3 days to 5 days from sticking them under moms)..

And let everyone out, and sit there and watch.

I flock raise, and USUALLY everything works out great.

But once I had a nasty hen that only wanted to kill chicks...no idea why...

So watch them for an hour or two, if the flock are all good, they yeah... all good.

Oh... as to safety stuff... I use a PVC pipe feeder in one coop, chicks can't eat out of that, and can get stuck in them..

I also use water pans.. great place for chicks to drown... I add a crazy number of rocks so that they won't.

 

[Missbc]

Thank you!

Yeah, the run is like Fort Knox. 1/2” hardware cloth and 2x4 construction with a concrete stem wall. Nothing gets in (too many predators plus mice/rats so we built the enclosure a few years back).

The hens have a hanging waterer That the chicks won’t be able to reach and I have small chick waterers installed around the coop. I will have to add rocks to the hanging waterer once their flight feathers come in so they don’t fly in and drown.

I’ve been using an elevated pan to feed the hens. Only change will be multiple pans and unmediated chick food. I’ll put the flock block up on a tall platform but will end up removing it once the chicks really start getting off the ground.

I appreciate the input! I’ll be working outside mid week to see how the introduction goes. The australorp is the top of the pecking order so I don’t worry about her defending her chicks. It’ll be interesting to see the leghorn in action- she’s not quite the bottom of the pecking order but pretty close.

 

[Missbc]

This is Fort Knox (from my last round of chicks that I raised inside in a brooder)

 

[Alaskan]

This is Fort Knox (from my last round of chicks that I raised inside in a brooder)
View attachment 2239751

That is excellent!!!