Broody hen and too many chicks

[z3lda3]

I’ve got a bantam broody, she’s been broody for 26 days. I had 8 baby chicks I bought, actually I bought 4 but ended up with 8. Anyway I placed 4 under her, she took to them perfectly! It’s been 2 days and she’s the best mama. I wanted to give her all 8 but she’s so little, she physically couldn’t sit on 8. (They’re standard sized chicks). That leaves me with 4 in a brooder box indoors. I can do it, I’ve raised PLENTY this way, but I’d like them to grow up together. The integration process is just a pain in the neck. Is there a way that can happen? The mama is in a brooder in the coop, it’s a good sized brooder, it can hold a hen and at least 12 babies very comfortably. (Ask me how I know lol). I was thinking putting the other 4 chicks in there and adding a heat lamp, but I’m scared to use a heat lamp in the coop. Anybody have any ideas??

 

[rural mouse]

I’ve got a bantam broody, she’s been broody for 26 days. I had 8 baby chicks I bought, actually I bought 4 but ended up with 8. Anyway I placed 4 under her, she took to them perfectly! It’s been 2 days and she’s the best mama. I wanted to give her all 8 but she’s so little, she physically couldn’t sit on 8. (They’re standard sized chicks). That leaves me with 4 in a brooder box indoors. I can do it, I’ve raised PLENTY this way, but I’d like them to grow up together. The integration process is just a pain in the neck. Is there a way that can happen? The mama is in a brooder in the coop, it’s a good sized brooder, it can hold a hen and at least 12 babies very comfortably. (Ask me how I know lol). I was thinking putting the other 4 chicks in there and adding a heat lamp, but I’m scared to use a heat lamp in the coop. Anybody have any ideas??

The "mama hen heating pad" concept. Build a "cave" covered by a heating pad with no auto-shutoff. Babies can go in/climb on top for a warm up and range around mama (especially if she adopts all of them) for learning)

There's an article about it, so a quick site search should bring it up.