Can I separate chicks from mama until late hatchers hatch?

[Cryss]

I’ve been posting about my hen sitting and including videos of candling. General consensus is that several were added to the clutch kinda late. Such a thing had to happen within 4 days maximum because it was on day 4 of her sitting that I moved the eggs to a private coop. It has been speculated that the videos show some to be a week behind but I can’t see how.
Regardless, my question is can I remove chicks as they hatch, brood them separately, and return them to mama Rosie after she has hatched the latecomers? Rosie is a 2y10m old Blue Wheaten Ameracauna first time Brooder Mama.

 

[Cryss]

Bump. Cuz tomorrow is probably day 21!

 

[Cryss]

Bump. Cuz tomorrow is probably day 21!

Bump again.

 

[NatJ]

can I remove chicks as they hatch, brood them separately, and return them to mama Rosie after she has hatched the latecomers?

Yes, you can do that.

Or you can remove the slow eggs, and put them in an incubator, then give those chicks to her after they hatch.

Either way, you will have some chicks that are a few days younger than the rest, but it shouldn't be a big deal, as long as the youngest ones are steady on their feet by the time they have to follow the hen around (otherwise, they might get left behind.)

 

[Cryss]

Or you can remove the slow eggs, and put them in an incubator, then give those chicks to her after they hatch.

Yes I thought about that too. Problem is I don’t have an incubator and not prepared to buy one at this time. It’s an investment for next year. That’s why I wondered if it would work the other way around. I don’t have a brooder tray but my local feed store has a brooder lamp for $13, perfect for 3-4 eggs for 3-4 days brooding.
Thanks for the encouragement. I’m really hopeful.

 

[NatJ]

Yes I thought about that too. Problem is I don’t have an incubator and not prepared to buy one at this time. It’s an investment for next year. That’s why I wondered if it would work the other way around. I don’t have a brooder tray but my local feed store has a brooder lamp for $13, perfect for 3-4 eggs for 3-4 days brooding.
Thanks for the encouragement. I’m really hopeful.

That makes sense. Yes, an incubator tends to be more expensive than some styles of brooder setup, so I can see why you'd rather go with a brooder this time.

A heat lamp in one corner of a big cardboard box, plus food & water, usually works fine for a brooder. Just make sure the heat lamp can't fall and start a fire, and that it's safe from predators (including any pet cats or dogs you may have.)

 

[Cryss]

I’m working on setting up my “very short term” brooder. I saw a thread about a similar situation that brought up another question. Should I remove chicks as soon as each one is dry? This could mean a couple or few days separation. Or should I wait a day or so to see if she’s still sitting on 3 or so eggs and then remove the hatchlings to make the separation time a shorter period?

 

[NatJ]

I’m working on setting up my “very short term” brooder. I saw a thread about a similar situation that brought up another question. Should I remove chicks as soon as each one is dry? This could mean a couple or few days separation. Or should I wait a day or so to see if she’s still sitting on 3 or so eggs and then remove the hatchlings to make the separation time a shorter period?

I haven't done it myself, so I could be wrong here. But I would probably check once or twice a day and remove any chicks that have hatched since the last hatch. If a chick is really wet, I'd leave it a bit longer, but I would also take any that are slightly damp. If the brooder has a warm enough spot, they can finish drying off there.

You want the hen to stay in egg-hatching mode, not switch into chick-raising mode (come off the nest and lead chicks around for meals and dustbaths and such.) So I think removing chicks promptly has a better chance of working the way you want.

 

[Shadrach]

I’m working on setting up my “very short term” brooder. I saw a thread about a similar situation that brought up another question. Should I remove chicks as soon as each one is dry? This could mean a couple or few days separation. Or should I wait a day or so to see if she’s still sitting on 3 or so eggs and then remove the hatchlings to make the separation time a shorter period?

Is the hen showing signs of leaving the nest?
It's never a good idea to seperate chicks from their mother.
If you must remove chicks then wait until the mother shows no further interest in sitting. She may still not sit on any unhatched eggs anyway.

 

[Cryss]

Is the hen showing signs of leaving the nest?
It's never a good idea to seperate chicks from their mother.
If you must remove chicks then wait until the mother shows no further interest in sitting. She may still not sit on any unhatched eggs anyway.

No she’s still sitting waiting for hatching to begin. I thought today or tomorrow there would be one starting the arrivals. I’m guessing tomorrow now. My idea may be moot at this point. We are predicted to start raining here at 2am and continue all day tomorrow. Do me this means as soon as that first drop hits the ground I’m going to lose power! This is the worst part of living here but I love everything else. So if I lose power mama has the best chance at keeping babies warm.
I’m going to just leave this in God’s hands.