I have two sets of chicks that are all the same age - 4 weeks old. 5 were hatched and raised by me in a brooder in the house, and 3 were hatched and raised by a broody with the flock. I'll be getting rid of the males soon - 2 of mine and 2 of the broody's, by the looks of it - and I want to try to integrate my 3 females with the broody and her one female. I've already taken the 5 brooder chicks outside and the flock seems to accept them just fine. The broody is very interested in them, calls them over and gives them food. They've been hanging out together in the afternoon for several days now. So that part is going well. However, I haven't seen them try to go under her yet. Maybe they just haven't gotten that close yet, or maybe they don't know to do that..? They were raised with a MHP so they do know to go under something for heat, and they do try to snuggle in my armpit when I sit with them outside and they get cold. They aren't fully feathered yet. Will they eventually figure it out and go under her for heat? Or is it too late at this point? I'm afraid to leave them outside for long periods of time, but I want to see if I can avoid having to set up the MHP in the coop.
Here they are, all hanging out together. My chicks are the scrappy looking ones not done feathering out. The broody's chicks are almost completely feathered, except for their heads (but they do still go under her periodically, even on 70-degree days).
Here they are, all hanging out together. My chicks are the scrappy looking ones not done feathering out. The broody's chicks are almost completely feathered, except for their heads (but they do still go under her periodically, even on 70-degree days).
