Broody chook amongst existing flock

[LRAT]

Dear all,

First time posting to this forum, so, please be gentle

We got a flock of 2 roosters and 6 chickens. The breeds are: 2x Buff Orpington, 3x White Sussex, 1x Plymouth Rock, 1x Barnevelder and a bantam hen.
The bantam hen is broody all the time and since the last two weeks she has been brooding on 9 eggs.
I expect the chicks will hatch at the start of next week.
The flock are living in harmony and even the two roosters seem to get along very well with one another. They were all raised together from one-day hatchlings
My question is: Can I leave the bantam as is and let her incubate the eggs? Will the new chicks be accepted by the current flock? She's quite a feisty little hen and protects her eggs very well.
I have incubated fertile eggs in the past but never had it happening inside an existing flock of birds.
Our birds live in a big chook house (My missus calls it "The palace") and they have a fully enclosed wire cage outside protected from all predators. All in all they've got about 100 square meters for 9 birds.
Can somebody tell me their experiences or give me some advice with this?
Thank you very much for your help!
Cheers,

Luc
Melbourne, Australia

 

[NoFlyBackFarm]

She should be fine. The best part of broodies is very little work!

 

[LRAT]

Thanks NoFlyBackFarm for the re-assurement.
We are quite anxious and excited at the same time and want to achieve the best outcome for the birds.

 

[aart]

All in all they've got about 100 square meters for 9 birds......since the last two weeks she has been brooding on 9 eggs.

Well, potentially 18 birds but sounds like plenty of space.
Depending on how much is protected from the weather.

Broody should be fine with her chicks in the flock, but always good to have a plan to separate them from flock with an area of wire mesh for the first week in case you have some untoward aggression.

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[LRAT]

Thanks aart,

I have updated my profile picture and added my location. It was indeed very easy to do.
Thanks for the explanation!

 

[Kiki]

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[Flockandfowl46]

Welcome to BYC hun glad to have you join us! Mama should be just fine doing all the work just keep an eye out for any problems with your subordinate roo they are the sneaky ones you sometimes have to watch for

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
I like to have my broody hen in the coop, but separated from the flock, until the chicks are five to seven days of age, and are getting around pretty well. Then, I leave the door open so everyone is together, and I do watch for a while. Most broody hens defend their babies very well, but do watch for any issues.
Can you fence her off without moving her at this point? Something temporary will do fine.
Mary

 

[LRAT]

Thank you all for the informative replies.
From your answers I come to the conclusion that nature seems to take care of everything. However, there's always a chance that one of the chooks/roosters might become jealous and could cause some harm or even death.
The hen is now brooding in a nest box which is about 50 cm above ground level. I fear, once the eggs hatch, this might be a drop-off too high for the chicks.
So, I will need to either move the nest to a lower ground or build a sloping board so that they can go in and out the nest.
I'm just scared that when I move the eggs to a lower ground the bantam will refuse to go back on the eggs.
I'm probably too worried about the situation but I want to achieve the best outcome for all my birds and chicks.
Once again thank you very much for your input. I will keep you all updated when the chicks are hatched.
Cheers,

Luc

 

[Folly's place]

Often, but not always, you can move a broody hen with her eggs without having her quit.
During the day, set up a large dog crate, or something safer, in the coop; bedding, food and water all in there.
At night, with a small flashlight, quietly move her and her nest into the new location, lock her in, and creep away. In the morning, she may want out. Keep her in! Most often my broodies would accept this and continue to brood. Not every time though!
Alternatively, you can get lucky and be home to move her and her chicks to a safer spot, before any of them get chilled and die, either in the nest box, or on the floor.
Good luck!
Mary