Ala natural questions/suggestions/advice

[Beer4myhorses]

Hello all. I found this forum very helpful over the past year altho I have been AWOL for a while.

I've breezed thru 8 of 650 pages looking for information...I figured
I'd go ahead and just ask some questions & solicit some advice...even tho the info is probably burried in one of these pages. LOL

I've had my chicks for about a year. All have been doing well and I've had no real issues. I decided to let some of my hens sit on some eggs. Well, many have wanted to sit, but I am down to 2...as a matter of fact, they are both sitting on the same box!!! LOL It's rather cute the way they both squeeze in there.

They have been sitting for a couple weeks I figure and I would expect chicks, if the mama's have been doing their job correctly, to hatch in the next week or two. I've decided to let mother nature run it's course.

Once the chicks start hatching, I am hoping they will be accepted by the others...or...between the two hens laying they will protect the babies. What about food & water?

Should I put a box in the coop with a hole big enough for them for their food and water?

Should I add a heat lamp?

Will they leave mom for the food and water? Will mom let them leave for that?

Or, will the mom's provide for them on their own?

I really wasn't planning on building a whole new coop for the mom's and chicks.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Slywoody]

Don't worry, those hens will protect the chicks from the others. I would make sure they have chick starter and water available to them though and the hens will keep them warm. I love doing it the natural way too. Good Luck Woody

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I always separate my Broody with her clutch of eggs so the older hens and roosters don't harm the chicks when they hatch. If you do that just add food (starter grower) the hen will eat what the chicks do with no problems and water close by. Momma hens stays close and keeps the chicks warm so no need for a heat lamp.

Momma hens show them what to do and they will stay close to her.