Broody or Brooder?

[cochinfan05]

I'm just looking for a little insight. Given a choice would most use a brooder or broody hen? I'm picking up 8 standard cochin chicks on the 23rd and my bantam cochin happened to go broody about a week ago. My biggest concern is that she won't be able to protect them from my other birds since she is my only bantam and also the lowest on the pecking order. Also she's fairly young and this will be her first clutch, 8 may be a little much for her. If it was one of my standard girls I wouldn't think twice about giving them the chicks. I enjoy having chicks in the brooder but I also love watching the Mama caring for them. Maybe I should just let her hatch a couple and put the hatchery chicks in brooder? Any suggestions or experiences would be appreciated!

 

[Percheron chick]

8 is twice what she can cover and keep warm. Let her hatch 4 eggs instead.

 

[iwiw60]

Can you put the broody and those new chicks together in a separate pen/area???

 

[cochinfan05]

I already have her separated in a portable dog "play pen" with a plastic dog crate. I have to get inventive when someone goes broody because all my girls like to lay in the same box and eggs get broken when the broody doesn't want to budge. All 8 would be to many though?

 

[iwiw60]

I don't know...how big is your hen? I've see hens brood up to 10 chicks...guess it's a wait-n-see kinda thing.

 

[cochinfan05]

Shes a bantam and pretty tiny. A little bigger then a softball? I think I'm just going to give her 3 standard eggs and make her work for her babies. I have a really hard time waiting 3 weeks though. It's killing me waiting for the ordered chicks!