Can I take newly hatched chicks away from mother hen?

[Kogburn]

 

[MissPrissy]

Why?

She will brood them better than you can.

Welcome to BYC.

 

[SunAngel]

Yes you can.

I had a really mean broody that was attacking any other chicken that dared to come into the coop and I had no place to separate her and the chicks, so I took the chicks and put them in a brooder. She was fine, after a few minutes and the chicks are much friendlier than broody raised ones.

My second broody hatched her chicks while the temps were 17 degrees here. To me, that was just too cold to have tiny chicks trying to run around looking for food, even if they could run back to the mom for warmth. So I took them as they hatched and put them with my chicks that were hatching in the incubator. They have all been growing up together in my brooder for 3 weeks now and are doing great!

Its less work for you if the mother raises them and they are cute to watch with the mom, but for some, raising them in a brooder works best.

 

[ddeans]

Quote:
Agreed. Unless there is some underlying circumstance that would put the chick in danger then you should just leave it with the mother.

Also....

 

[Sissy]

Yes I did although its better if mama does it
but Mama I have had just killed one so I ttook the other 4 into the warm brooder
and now they are out and about and fine.
Welcome to BYC

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Yes, you can take the chicks. I am guessing you have a reason. A few would be that Mama lets the chicks out of the nest and they are killed by weather or the other hens (they WILL kill the chicks, I have witnessed this). Chicks HAVE to eat and drink, but Mama has to take care of them too. In cold weather like we all seem to be experiencing now, I would take the chicks and keep them in a nice warm brooder. Moma hens encourage thier young to be on thier own around 8 weeks and they do not reconize their young when you put them back in with the flock.

 

[swtangel321]

I wouldnt unless there is a GOOD reason !! It's so much easier to let her do it, plus she will do it much better than you can !!

 

[Kevin padron]

Quote:

Agreed. Unless there is some underlying circumstance that would put the chick in danger then you should just leave it with the mother.

Also....

What if the chick is smaller snd weaker than the rest of the chicks and if that chick keeps being kicked my its mother should it be removed from its mother

 

[MageofMist]

What if the chick is smaller snd weaker than the rest of the chicks and if that chick keeps being kicked my its mother should it be removed from its mother

I would take two chicks, as if you take just one... Expect to hear it screaming for you the moment you put it down. When my first silkies hatched, I had a first hatcher who was glued to me, the moment I put him down, he started crying at the tops of his lungs and trying to jump out of whatever enclosure I put him in to get to me.

I took him as the hen started pecking at him after he hatched, and the rest of the eggs to put in the incubator after two eggs had humidity issues and needed to be assisted. After he was with a sibling though, he stopped screaming for me when I put him down.

 

[Silvija]

Me too have a situation were I am thinking to take chicks from a hen. I have two broody bantams and chicks will hach only few days apart. It's too cold to leave them in the coop or anywere unheated so I am bringing hens and chicks in a bit warmer place. Thing is this place is not so big and I would radher have one Mom with chicks than two. Second has only four eggs anyway (she was not sitting well at first but then she changed her mind). So is it a good idea to take chicks from second one and at night put them under first hen? She has 7 eggs now. Shes not big, but not too tiny.