Broody with one 2.5 week old chick

[Mama Bay]

My broody hatched only One chick. I let them free range at the end of the day with the other big chickens and then usually put them back in the rabbit hutch they've been staying in. This evening when I went in to get her and the chick she had gone up to roost with the others with a little check underneath her. I took her be the chick down and put them in the hutch. At what point should I just let her keep the baby out full time?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It sounds like it is old enough. It can depend if you need to worry about predators or not.

 

[lazy gardener]

If the roost is predator proof, I'd have left her and her baby with the rest of the flock. She was doing what a good Mama does.

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree, let them stay there on the roost. The roosting urge is a very powerful urge, if she got that chick up there, she is a good mama, and the other birds will leave it alone. Your integration into the flock is over, and was relatively painless. Don't mess it up, by keeping them separate.

Mrs K

 

[Mama Bay]

Ok thanks so much!!!