ChicknWing
Chirping
After a lot of reading, I decided to take the plunge and ordered chicks on account that I have two broodies. A Black Cochin & a Blue Laced Wyandotte. At the moment, I have a total of 19 chickens spread out in two coops. While the coops are identical, most of them (15 to 16) use the same one coop for roosting at night while the remaining 3-4 use the other. However, most of them use this second coop for laying their eggs. Perhaps because it remains cleaner due to lesser number of tenants. This is also the coop where the two broodys have taken residence.
My question is should I :
1) Keep things the way they are and just give the two broodies the chicks at night once they arrive and let the non-broodies come in to lay their eggs.
2) Close off this coop to the others for a few days leaving the two newly minted mamas to bond with their babies before allowing others to come back in.
3) Place a semi large box in the house and move the two broodies into that. Then, introduce the chicks to them in there. After a few days, move everyone back to their original coop. This way, they have bonded and the chicks know who their mama is, etc. Not to mention we get to enjoy watching & playing with the chicks for a few days and they're still be with their mamas.
My concern is basically the safety of the chicks. How will the non-broody hens react when they come to lay their eggs and see the chicks there. Since, I'm planning on having between 20 - 30 chicks between the two broodies, I'm not sure how easily they will all be able to hide under their adopted mama. Or maybe I'm just overthinking this and the new mamas will easily protect the chicks in the event that any of the others tried to get cute.
Thank you in advance for your advice & guidance.
My question is should I :
1) Keep things the way they are and just give the two broodies the chicks at night once they arrive and let the non-broodies come in to lay their eggs.
2) Close off this coop to the others for a few days leaving the two newly minted mamas to bond with their babies before allowing others to come back in.
3) Place a semi large box in the house and move the two broodies into that. Then, introduce the chicks to them in there. After a few days, move everyone back to their original coop. This way, they have bonded and the chicks know who their mama is, etc. Not to mention we get to enjoy watching & playing with the chicks for a few days and they're still be with their mamas.
My concern is basically the safety of the chicks. How will the non-broody hens react when they come to lay their eggs and see the chicks there. Since, I'm planning on having between 20 - 30 chicks between the two broodies, I'm not sure how easily they will all be able to hide under their adopted mama. Or maybe I'm just overthinking this and the new mamas will easily protect the chicks in the event that any of the others tried to get cute.
Thank you in advance for your advice & guidance.
