Chick raising methods

[aart]

I tried something different this year I had a broody BCM and made her a nest box in a dog crate inside the coop with the other 4 hens and a Roo. At 4 weeks I let the broody out of the cage and left babies inside. It went well she could still be close to her babies she and the chicks have done very well with this and they are now 2 1/2 months old not near as flighty as normal broody raised chicks but with all the benefits. So far so good.

Instead of letting mama and chicks out of crate a week or so after hatch?
Are the chicks still confined to crate at 2 1/2 months old?

 

[Shadrach]

I prefer letting the hen raise the chicks. They seem to integrate much more easily this way. My favorite moment is when the chicks get introduced to dad.
The most stressful moment is when mum takes the chicks home assuming she's hatched in another place. Standing outside a coop while mum goes in and out trying to persuade the chicks to follow,waiting in case the chicks wont go in, or only some do, can be a bit nail biting.

 

[bobbi-j]

I think the people who don't want broodies raising their chicks are in the "chickens are pets" camp. They prefer to have their chicks more tame so they can pet and cuddle them. Those who raise chickens as livestock prefer to have the broodies raise their chicks so the chicks learn chicken society and are more savvy sooner rather than later.

 

[aart]

I think the people who don't want broodies raising their chicks are in the "chickens are pets" camp. They prefer to have their chicks more tame so they can pet and cuddle them. Those who raise chickens as livestock prefer to have the broodies raise their chicks so the chicks learn chicken society and are more savvy sooner rather than later.

Not this incubator. I raise them as livestock, but prefer to incubate due to timing issues.
Brooding in coop 1 week after hatch then integrating at 4 weeks leaves them about as 'wild' and flock savvy as broody raised chicks. About the time I got my coop brooder/integration set up, I was over the chickie baby 'cuddling', as well as the mess and stink in the house.
I actually think early integrated incubator chicks learn chicken society better than broody raised, broody raised chicks can freak out once mama weans them and they have no protector...but I have only had 2 broody raised clutches.

 

[mixedbreeds]

Instead of letting mama and chicks out of crate a week or so after hatch?
Are the chicks still confined to crate at 2 1/2 months old?

Hey aart they are still in the cage but I miss spoke they are 1 1/2 months old I have two groups of broody chicks the other ones are the older and they are nuts compared to the others. When do you think I should let the 1 1/2 month old chicks out? I would like to get that cage out of there. The place they are in is an old horse stall in the barn it is 12’ x 12’. As I said there are 5 hens that includes momma and the Roo he is just 1 year old they are all BCM. The Roo is a nice guy and he is pretty big.

 

[bobbi-j]

Not this incubator. I raise them as livestock, but prefer to incubate due to timing issues.
Brooding in coop 1 week after hatch then integrating at 4 weeks leaves them about as 'wild' and flock savvy as broody raised chicks. About the time I got my coop brooder/integration set up, I was over the chickie baby 'cuddling', as well as the mess and stink in the house.
I actually think early integrated incubator chicks learn chicken society better than broody raised, broody raised chicks can freak out once mama weans them and they have no protector...but I have only had 2 broody raised clutches.

You have a good point. I guess I was generalizing too much.

 

[aart]

Hey aart they are still in the cage but I miss spoke they are 1 1/2 months old I have two groups of broody chicks the other ones are the older and they are nuts compared to the others. When do you think I should let the 1 1/2 month old chicks out? I would like to get that cage out of there. The place they are in is an old horse stall in the barn it is 12’ x 12’. As I said there are 5 hens that includes momma and the Roo he is just 1 year old they are all BCM. The Roo is a nice guy and he is pretty big.

I would have let them out with mama a week after hatch...not sure if she'll protect them anymore or not, worth a try...if it doesn't work out you'll have to go to conventional integration of the chicks into the flock.

 

[mixedbreeds]

Wow I would have never thought of letting them out that early. I will try that next time. Thank you

 

[RWise]

My broodies have their clutch in the flock at 2-3 days
Incubator hatches go into the flock at 5 weeks from an outdoor brood house