Broody Hen with Baby Chick

[amanda223]

Hello!
I had a mama hatch an egg on December 26. I have them in a separate area in the coop. My
Other hens can hear them but cant see them. When can I let mom and baby in with the rest of the chickens.

Side note I have a cat who lives in my coop. I'm guessing I'll need to get her out until the chick is bigger. Anyone ever have success leaving a cat in there?

 

[Justy0]

I have raised lots of duckling broods, and my cats gave them plenty of space, however that was probably because I was the one raising them and my cats knew better. It may be different if the cat doesn't respect the mama chicken, or thinks she can sneak a bite in when mama isn't looking.
Over all I would say it probably depends on the cat, but most people would er on the side of caution and not leave the cat alone with the babies due to their predatory instincts.

 

[kesrchicky16]

Hello!
I had a mama hatch an egg on December 26. I have them in a separate area in the coop. My
Other hens can hear them but cant see them. When can I let mom and baby in with the rest of the chickens.

Side note I have a cat who lives in my coop. I'm guessing I'll need to get her out until the chick is bigger. Anyone ever have success leaving a cat in there?

Just 1 baby? Let them out now. I have 12 farm cats. Mama can watch 1 baby just fine. My cats wander into the coop but the chickens do see them as predator -ish so I never let them stay. Safer for cat and birds alike.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'd put them together now.
The hen will protect the chick from the other flock members.
If you wait till she 'weans' the chick, she won't protect it.

You'll need to switch the flock to a grower or all-flock type of feed. The chick needs a minimum of 18% protein and only 1% calcium.

The cat is a No-No. It can take the chick out at night while the hen sleeps and is blinded by the dark.

In the last month, a huge feral cat took two young chickens and then the primary rooster in a coop after dusk when the rooster couldn't see what was going on.
I haven't been able to trap or kill the cat yet but I will.

 

[kesrchicky16]

I guess I should add more then 1 baby keep them in a cat proof area until the babies can protect themselves and look more like a chicken then "dinner sized treat".

 

[amanda223]

Thank you all! Yes just one baby. I'll let mama and baby in with the flock tomorrow and see how it goes.

I'll keep the cat out. She's been around my chickens since they were young but when they were baby chicks I had them in the house. This is our first hatch out in the coop.

Thanks for all your help!!

 

[kesrchicky16]

Thank you all! Yes just one baby. I'll let mama and baby in with the flock tomorrow and see how it goes.

I'll keep the cat out. She's been around my chickens since they were young but when they were baby chicks I had them in the house. This is our first hatch out in the coop.

Thanks for all your help!!

Be prepared for her to be VERY defensive. My broody mama of 1 chick got in one "cock" fight and the other hen was trying to defend and run away. After I stepped in with a leaf rake the other shook her head and looked at me like "what did I Do? What's her problem?"

That only happened once and I didn't see what caused it. Just know that mama will protect from everyone even you.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They claim that the best way to train a cat to leave chicks alone is to let a broody hen confront the cat when it comes close to a chick. I just wouldn't allow the cat to be in the coop at night when the hen can't monitor what's going on.

 

[kesrchicky16]

Yep my cats learned fast but I still have a chick/cat proof broody pen for the multiple chicks per hen.

 

[Pat Mcaffee]

I would put them together now and switch the food to chick food. The mother can watch over just one chick and provide it with food or water. If it's a first-time mother, I would wt ch over it though and maybe even remove the cat.