Allowing mama to intergrate her chicks (3 weeks)

[arrowti]

Hello all! Our broody hatched her two chicks 3 weeks ago, separate from the flock. While they have maintained visual contact through the fence starting at day 3, they have not really been mixed together until today. After dropping the fence to get the ducks in the broody brought her chicks in with the flock.

Everything went (surprisingly) okay. None of the hens or roosters were interested in harming the chicks. One hen was pecking the mama but only in a dominance way. The only fights that occurred were from mama attacking hens that got too close to her chicks. The chicks ate some layer feed, which should be okay since it was just one time and they have starter feed back at their nest. They also had some honeysuckle berries that she jumped up to grab for them.

The chicks are currently perching on small branches, able to jump/flap several feet, sparring with one another, and growing combs. They are feathering nicely and are healthy.

While mama did lead her chicks back out after, I'm wondering if it is too early to allow her to mingle. I know a single good peck or attack could kill the chicks at this age, and it only takes a split second for it to happen. This is actually our first successful broody (one that managed to make it to hatching), so I have no experience in these later stages. I feel like I should let her do when she feels she should do when she does it, but I also don't want any dead chicks.

On a sidenote, we have a second broody sitting on a nest inside the coop, with eggs due to hatch any day now. Feeding the flock chick starter with a side of oyster shell won't be an issue.

Any experience on this would be appreciated!

 

[Flockandfowl46]

Some may have a difference of opinion but my brood Sat hatched and raised 10 successful chicks totally integrated with my flock of 60+ chickens plus my turkeys and ducks good mother's know what they are doing

 

[dunnmom]

I've only had 1 hatch, but I can tell you how it went. My broody set and hatched right in the coop. I had she and her chicks partitioned off with a screen for about a week, but she began acting restless, so I took down the screen and let her do her thing. Everything went perfectly. I've never had a successful integration when I've tried to do it myself, but mama hen did so well that I may never try to DIY integrate again. In short, I would say go ahead and let her give it a try under your watchful eye. If you wait until she is no longer interested in her chicks, it may be a lot more difficult.

 

[Arya28]

We currently have a mama with babies that are about 2 1/2 weeks old. They can see the rest of the flock through the fence too. We want to integrate them but aren't sure if we should yet. So, I am following this thread

 

[dunnmom]

Also, I might add that mama hen stopped mom-ing at 4 weeks. The chicks are now on their own and learning their place in the pecking order. I've had to watch for bullying and make sure the big girls are letting them eat and drink, but no blood has been drawn on any chick so far.

 

[arrowti]

Thanks for the replies! I'll let her choose what to do and see how it goes. Everything seems to be going smoothly for now.

 

[igorsMistress]

We have a broody on eggs right now. The plan is to let her raise the chicks with the flock from the first day, no separation.
I have successfully integrated chicks with older birds twice, but they were fully feathered and ready. This is a new experience. I would love to hear back on how things go for you.

 

[arrowti]

Well, it's been a few days. She and the chicks stay with the flock all day, but at night, they go back to their nest. While she has made efforts to get them into the coop (and they are able to get in there, I've seen them), they stand outside chirping loudly and refuse to go. They're not ready, I think.

No one has bothered the chicks. The bantam roo is not happy that the hen is not submissive to him and occasionally pecks at her, but he doesn't even look twice at the chicks. Our standard rooster has no interest in the hen but is curious to his chicks.

Now... I'm starting to get worried. These chicks have some awfully developed combs for 3 weeks... hoping it's just their mixed breed heritage has faster development than other. sadly we don't really have space or enough hens for more roosters...

 

[arrowti]

5 weeks old... I have finally got them to go into the coop, mostly by refusing to drop the fence for her to come out. It was almost complete darkness, and the other chickens had gone in 45 minutes ago... one chick would go in, and the second would stand outside chirping, and the first would jump back out... repeatx1000.

Eventually I got fed up and charged at them from the other side of the fence (I mean it could have gone either way) and they both fled into the coop in terror. I slammed the door shut. And waited.

No sounds of chicken vs chicken chaos. Just frightened chicks and a clucking hen. I poked my head in and she was having them perch next to her beside our rooster. I've been trying to get these birds into the coop for 2 weeks, with more force lately with the sighting of rabid foxes in my town. Now they're safe.

But man, these chicks are wild! And both probably roosters...