Chicks due in 1 week

[mi2bugz]

i have 4 eggs under a broody hen. Last time we let her hatch out eggs we moved her to a nursery away from the other hens. We want to just let nature take its course n let mom raise the chicks with the other 5 hens (2 are 2 yrs old, 3 are a year old). The 2 year old hens are not too tolerant of the 1 yr old hens so not sure how tolerant they will be of chicks. Here are my questions:

1). If we raise them all together do I feed all 6 hens chick starter with the chicks? Will the older hens be harmed from not having layer feed? They have access to oyster shell as wanted.

2). Momma hen is in the top nesting box about 3 feet off the ground. Should I move her as soon as chicks hatch down to the floor of the coop or will the chicks be able to get down themselves?

3). Once chicks are out of the top nesting box should I have a big dog crate on the floor of the coop so the little chicks can get away from older hens? All our chickens free range all day so most are never in the coop except to lay eggs. Problem with the dog crate is if I leave a big enough opening for momma hen to get in then the other hens "could" get in the crate (not sure that momma hen would allow it but concerned about it just in case).

4). Or should I just stop worrying/interfering and let nature completely take its course?

I have heard to let the chicks be raised with the flock as it makes the flock more tolerant of each other. I was thinking maybe because I had the 1 yr old hens raised in a nursery that is why the 2 yr old hens aren't very tolerant of them.

Thank you for any and all assistance/ideas.

~ Nicole

 

[Teila]

Howdy mi2bugz

I have always separated my broody’s and subsequent bubs from the rest of the flock for a couple of reasons:
1. My set up means that the eggs and later, little ones are at risk from damage over fights for the favourite nest box [I have more than one

].
2. My older gals do not like chick start.
3. My older gals are not tolerant of little ones that are not their own.

Granted, reintegration back into the flock requires a lot of time and patience, but I have successfully done this without any injuries. I prefer to leave my reintegration until the little ones are at least 10-12 weeks old but the flock is able to see them through a wire divider from Day 1.

Some flocks and set ups are OK for raising a hatch together and others are not.

My broody coop is about 1ft off the ground and while the chicks work out from Day 2-3 how to follow mum down the ramp, they don’t seem to get the hang of following her back up

. Another reason I separate them from the flock; I do not want a little one being stranded below, alone while mum is in the nest with the others. For the first week or so, most of my bubs have required a human hand air lift to get back to the nest at bed time.

My broody’s have been very protective of their little ones but sometimes, depending on how many, it is difficult for her to keep an eye on all at the same time, especially when they get that little bit older and start to explore more. With a tiny chick, it only takes one peck from an adult hen who means business to cause serious damage.

As I said, this is what I have found with my set up and flock and I have read many many posts of successful hatches in a flock.

In response to the flock raising verses later integration, I have never found this to be an issue and once integrated my little ones have found their spot on the ladder and made friends with members of the original flock.

If I were you, I would see how you go with raising in the flock but definitely have a Plan B if it does not appear to be working [an area you could separate off if need be]. When they hatch, definitely keep a very close eye on them and the older gals to see if any issues may occur.

Good luck with the hatch and please share some pics of your little ones.