Can broody hens and chicks be in with the main flock?

It really does not matter were you put your "broody box" as long as it is covered to prevent other chickens from roosting on the rim and pooping on the chicks. A sloped roof is good because any chicken that tries to roost on it will fall off. You can attach a red light on the underside of the cover if you want (it doesn't need to be a heating bulb because your broody hen will keep the chicks warm).

If you want to let the chicks out of the brooder it would be better to put them into a separate pen or coop until they are old enough to escape older, more aggressive chickens . Other chickens will sometimes kill young chicks if they get a chance.

Hope this information helps!!

 

I've had mixed results. My silkies and d'uccles are great with chicks, and the silkies will even try to steal them from one another. My marans, however, will destroy any chick they see like they would a mouse. I learned this the hard way when I let one brood in the coop

 

Yeah,but not always.You can't just "It doesn't matter",it does.

If a mother hen can't provide protection,her chicks may get killed,or even abandoned,or kidnapped.
A mother hen usually never abandons her chicks,she may fight,and endup giving them up.

Also,your birds don't need to be isolated from everybody,unless their laying in her nest box.

ThePRfan

 

Put the broody box on the floor. That way chicks have easy access to get in and out.
I'm a big advocate of a broody raising chicks in the flock. Over all the years I've done this I've only had a problem once. My alpha and omega hens hatched the same day and Alpha decided to go after one specific chick of Omegas. I just separated them for a week or so, then all was fine. Space and hiding spots are key for the littlest.