Babies hatched - keep with broody?

[Sjisty]

My dark Brahma chicks (8 of them) hatched today under my bantam hen. Should I let her keep them or bring them in? I don't have a separate coop so she is in with 8 adults. Will she protect them? This is the first time I have ever used a brood hen. I don't want to lose any chicks but she did such a good job and I don't want to upset her by stealing her babies. What should I do?

 

[pixie74943]

Let her keep them. Most people say that they grow up faster and healthier if you do. Just keep an eye on them to make sure mama is coping and babies arent getting bullied. Broodies are pretty fierce though.

And think, you wont have to waste to re-integrating them later

 

[NotTheMomma]

I'd probably put up a small fenced in area for the momma and her new chicks, and let her raise them! Sometimes other hens will kill babies.

 

[purr]

I put mine in a fence to keep her from everyone else,she just got out and then got them out.She's an awesome mommy and took all the work out of having chicks.But, I have to add mine free range and she has set up their nest in the motorcycle shed at night.We lock her and the babies up every night and let them out in the morning. And she pretty much keeps them apart from the other biggies.She's very fierce if any of the other chickens come around.Although she does let my silkie Roo babysit while she grooms herself nearby.It's so cute because he will offer them treats and fuss over them.
On the other hand my other hen had 2 babies and has lost them both.She was not such a good momma.She will not be allowed to go broody again.
The hen with the 7 babies is an EE.

 

[Sjisty]

Thanks for the info. For now I just closed the doors to the coop. Everybody free ranges all day and the others have access to food, water and plenty of shade. I couldn't keep my dog out of the coop -she loves babies of any kind and already got her nose nipped!