Can chicks raised by a broody be put in coop with non-broody chicks?

[SIMZ]

Hello!

We have 6 chicks that were hatched by our broody hen. They are almost 3 weeks old. We also have about 20 chicks being raised in a brooder. They are 1 week old (two weeks behind the others).

The original plan was to put the chicks into their own coop at around 4 weeks. We aren't sure how to fit the broody hen's chicks into this? I would really appreciate some help with these questions:

When can we separate our broody hen from her chicks so they can stay be themselves out in a "chick" coop?

Can we mix the broody raised chicks with our other chicks in this new coop?

I'm concerned that the broody's chicks will carry germs that the brooder raised chicks won't be immune to. Should I be?

Thank you so much!

 

[Ridgerunner]

When can we separate our broody hen from her chicks so they can stay be themselves out in a "chick" coop?

You can if you wish to. She will soon break from being broody and you just have some chicks to finish off in the brooder. Provide heat and such as age appropriate.

Can we mix the broody raised chicks with our other chicks in this new coop?

You can try. They may integrate very well or the older chicks may injure or kill the younger ones. It’s like any other integration. It may go so smoothly you wonder what all the worry was or it may be a disaster. They are living animals. You can never tell for sure how they will react.

I'm concerned that the broody's chicks will carry germs that the brooder raised chicks won't be immune to. Should I be?

You may not like my answer. My brooder is in the coop so they are exposed to the adults from Day 1. I take dirt from the run and give it to my brooder raised chicks on Day 3. This not only gives them grit and probiotics from the adults, it exposed them to any disease the adults might have. Chicks are often better able to gain immunity at a very young age, depending on what the disease might be. At some point they are going to be exposed to those diseases anyway, so I get it done early.

 

[SIMZ]

Thank you so much Ridgerunner!

No - your answer really makes sense to me. I've incubated and raised a few batches of chicks under near-panic conditions so they don't get cold, sick, diseases, etc. It's been eye-opening to watch this broody hen incubate eggs with poop smears and hatch 6-7 of the eggs (one wasn't fertile). Then she just brings them out into the "dirty" outdoors and has them pecking at dirt and eating grass and bugs from day 1. Somehow they seem to run around int he cold all by themselves without catching colds and freezing. Hmmm................

As far as intregrating the chicks, the plan is to keep them separated at first with a fence divider in the coop. That way I'm hoping they'll get used to one another, yet not be able to scuffle since there will be a size difference. After a week or so - I hope to take the divider out. It was more a concern about disease.

 

[CorinneP]

When I integrate chicks its almost funny to me how they stay a bit segregated .. The Broody hen continues to protect her babies and the other chicks huddle together I have what I call a Juniors pen so when they are large enough to not need a light but I feel they are ready for more space they go in my juniors coop.. when I go to check and feed on them they are usually grouped the way I put them in ..Self segregating .. I think its interesting .. They aren't fighting but aren't mingling as one either ..

 

[Kaeta44]

Once the chicks have lost their baby down and have properly feathered, you can move the broody hen away.