Broody Quail with Covey day 16/17 !!

[BBQuail]

So very excited!
This is my second broody quail (the first did indeed lose interest after 6 days).
Gigi started with 8 eggs, one cracked and one never developed. Hatch is tomorrow or the next day.
She has remained with her covey, one male(boy, does she not like him) and 6 other hens.
Yesterday, I moved all but one other hen out of her main enclosure, and put in food and water feeders more appropriate for the little ones, they can all still see each other a bit through the hardwarecloth door divider.
So my questions are, has anyone succeeded in leaving them with the covey? Is it OK I left one hen in with her? After they hatch, when might it be safe to let everyone back in? Or might I wind up having to brood the babies elsewhere?
And.. I have a few more eggs in the incubator, is there any chance of sneaking extra babies in with her after they hatch?
Thanks everyone!

 

[Nabiki]

Each hen is different, so keep a close eye on her. If she takes good care of the chicks, great. Have a brooder ready in case she doesn't, though. I wouldn't put the other birds in with them until they're at least 4 weeks old, preferably 6 weeks.

Some hens make good mothers, some will kill the chicks.

I had an older hen who I called "Grandma". She was great with chicks, so I put her in with the babies whenever I did a hatch. I discovered this when I was ready to "retire" her and brought her inside to do the deed. I had just hatched and had a bunch of day old chicks when the power went out. I put her in with them to see if she'd help keep them warm, and she did. She lived the rest of her life taking care of babies.

 

[ColtHandorf]

@007Sean has had Bobwhites rear chicks. He can probably offer some advice.

 

[BBQuail]

Thanks Nabiki!
I have several cameras to watch without disturbing.
I’m not sure I can keep the others locked out in the open run for more than a few days.
My brooder box is all set up, because of the incubator eggs. It was just luck she decided to sit at about the same time. If necessary, I could bring the babies in, with or without her. I don’t think she’d be happy about it either way.

 

[Nabiki]

Thanks Nabiki!
I have several cameras to watch without disturbing.
I’m not sure I can keep the others locked out in the open run for more than a few days.
My brooder box is all set up, because of the incubator eggs. It was just luck she decided to sit at about the same time. If necessary, I could bring the babies in, with or without her. I don’t think she’d be happy about it either way.

She might be happy to be surrounded by chicks, but it's so hard to say until you try it. I've read that older hens are more likely to accept chicks that they didn't hatch, but my only experience has been with Grandma.

 

[BBQuail]

Grandma sounds lovely! Any pictures?

 

[Nabiki]

 

[BBQuail]

Too cute, love the little pair of feet hanging out behind her.

 

[FloorCandy]

I separated my broody to an indoor cage, and she hatched and cared for her chicks and a runt I gave her from an incubator hatch. I have other adults that happily brood chicks given them from the incubator, my blind male is one of the best nannies I have.

 

[BBQuail]

She did it! Yay! And she’s being a great momma.
5 of 6 have hatched. She’s still going back to the nest Most of the time, so maybe #6 still has a chance.