Can chicks be hatched and raised right along with other chickens?

[Iansmommy]

We were thinking of allowing one of our broody hens to hatch some chicks.

Can they be hatched and raised right along with the other hens and rooster? Do they have to be separated from the rest of the flock for awhile. DH said they just allowed them to grow right along with the other chickens when he was little.

Also, when would be the best month to allow her to do this? It's still pretty cold here at night.

Side note: We have 11 Buff Orps and 1 Roo.

Thanks
Leah

 

[AHappychick]

I would think yes it should be fine. Make sure she has her own space with food and water close by where once the chicks hatch she can take them around easily (Nothing high up where they could fall). Now this is just my opinion but I think when there is just one roo to the flock the chicks and mother hen do just fine in with the rest as the roo knows they are his and is even more fathering and protective of the hen and chicks. That has just been my observation. Just be ready to intervene (bator ready, separate cage ready, brooder ready) whatever stage you are in to make sure you have a back up plan. Have fun it is the best watching them raise chicks in the flock the dynamics among them all is so interesting.

 

[Momo]

It also depends on the size of your coop and run. If the run is huge or they free range you should be just fine (unless the babies get picked off by predators like cats). But if you have a bunch of bored, cooped up hens, your broody will go frantic trying to keep her babies safe while the others play keep-away with the tender morsels. I keep my broody & chicks in a section-off area of the run until they're about two weeks old, by which time they don't look so enticing and have become very capable at navigating their world and keeping track of mom.

 

[jennh]

I tried that last year, and another of my broody hens, a BO, killed the chicks.

I think she was jealous, 'cause I wasn't let her be broody.

I kept chasing her off the nest. If I do it again, My hands are OFF !

Jen