Can broody hen raise chicks outside?

[Spunky1]

Is it possible, or advisable, for a hen to hatch her eggs and raise the chicks naturally? She's in a (almost completely) weatherproof coop, in a run which is permanently open to the backyard. The run could be closed up if necessary. We are going into Spring in my part of the world.

 

[User395221]

I would definitely close up the run. I'm in a low-predator-risk area, but I wouldn't leave chicks open to the world to that extent. A neighbourhood cat might well get them.

As for weather, where do you live and what are the temperatures? When my girls hatched some eggs late last year and they were big enough to get out of the raised coop, the chicks stayed with one of the girls outside in the covered run. They snuggled under her. She was ok because here it is warm, even at night.

Bottom line, you need to protect all of them from extreme/too cold temperatures and against anyone who might be intent on eating them. Doing that depends on your location and what you have to deal with.

 

[theuglychick]

I would think it depends on how accessible to predators your backyard is. We have raccoons, possums, mice, rats, hawks, owls, crows, foxes, coyotes, cats, dogs, and crackheads... so around here small chicks don't stand a chance. We keep ours (with mom if hatched by broody) in coop/run until almost fully grown. Then let them out to free range.

 

[sylviethecochin]

We live in an area where the main predators are snapping turtles. In seven years, we've lost an unknown number of ducks and one chicken (a really big RIR hen--probably a coon.) We also have a fifty-and an eighty-pound dog running around. They scare off predators, and know better than to attack the chickens. Because of that, we've always just left the chicks out. It really just depends on where you live. And with a broody hen--Let's just say I don't worry about the cats. I'm sure there's a video on youtube about that.

Regardless of your predator situation, you are going to want to confine them for the first few days. Chicks can't always keep up with mum at first, and they get confused when exposed to the big, wide world just out of the shell.

 

[centrarchid]

I do it all the time. Keeping predators out is key. I try to have cover patches so hens do not take broods too far away from core of protected area.

 

[Spunky1]

Going into Spring so daytime temps are warm but nights can still be a bit chilly. But in about a month's time when they would be hatching it'll be warmer. I'm fortunate enough to have almost no predators, just the odd eagle or kite and in six years of free ranging haven't had any incidents with them. I would definitely close up the run to start with, then let them out only when I'm around when they're old enough. Then there are lots of bushes to hide under.

 

[centrarchid]

If no predators, then almost no worries. Mine can rear chicks in dead of winter with lots of snow and temperatures dropping below 0 F so long as the have access to food and protection from the wind. They also do better is they can spend most of time off ground that is not covered by ice.

 

[User395221]

but nights can still be a bit chilly.

and of course the temperature always drops at night. I was a bit worried when my girl started sleeping "outdoors" with the babies despite the time of year, but left it to her to know whether she and they would be warm enough. I figured that chickens don't have houses in nature and they'd done all the hatching by themselves, so I trusted her judgment/instinct. As it turns out, they had it covered.

As for predators, the girls kept the bigger girls away from the babies, but they were in the run and didn't have to contend with the attentions of my dogs or perhaps my cats. I was much more concerned about the chicks than the grown up girls, because they could more easily be hurt through a curious nudging or a grab, even if it wasn't intended to harm. The chicks were pretty quick at running away, and they could dive underneath one of their mums pretty quickly, I would just have felt terrible if anything had happened.

 

[SunnyvaleMom]

I would personally provide a secure run for them. Of course they can be outside, but they are more vulnerable to predators than adult chickens.

 

[Ridgerunner]

There is no one way to do this that is right where every other way is wrong. We all do this many different ways for our own reasons.

I have no idea what you mean by "chilly". There are threads on here where a broody hen raised chicks in mostly snow with temperatures often getting well below freezing. The chicks run around eating and drinking until they get cold, then they run under Mama to warm up. The colder it is the more the risk. When it's freezing type of cold something that is an inconvenience in warm weather can soon become critical, accidents can happen any time in any conditions. But in general hens have no problems raising chicks and keeping them warm in temperatures many of us consider chilly or even cold.

Some of us grew up watching broody hens hatch eggs and raise their chicks with the flock. With me, that was a total free-range situation, a coop but no run. Hens have been doing that for thousands of years, as long as there have been chickens. They are living animals, about anything can possibly happen, but chickens are not extinct yet. There are sometimes exceptions but in general the hens do a great job taking care of their chicks. The other chickens in the flock generally do not harm the chicks, if necessary Mama will protect her babies. Usually that is not necessary, not all chickens try to attack any baby chick they see. She keeps them warm and protected from the weather as necessary. She teaches them to eat, drink, and how to be chickens. The chicks have no problems keeping up with Mama, she does not run to try to get away from them but is constantly clucking to let then know where she is. It's amazing how quickly those chicks can dart around.

Your biggest risk is predators. I don't know where you live and what actual predators are there, I suspect it's more than you listed. Around here my biggest risk to a baby chick is a snake but that is pretty rare. Dogs are a threat to the entire flock. I have owls and hawks around but hardly ever have a problems with them. Others have significant issues with birds of prey, a lot depends on your unique circumstances. I have all the usual suspects for the middle of a continent. The smaller the chick the more things can eat it. There is no way I can assess the risk you would have to predators. Somebody a half mile down the road could have a totally different result than me. It just depends on which predators happen to be at that spot.

Some people isolate a broody hen while she incubates and hatches, some people isolate a broody and her chicks when she is raising them. We each have our own experiences and reasons. Our set-ups and predator issues are unique. There are benefits, risks, and inconveniences to all of them. I can't tell you what is he right decision for you, but I can assure you the nights being a bit chilly is not a concern. The broody hen can handle that.