Chicks hatching in the coop, when to move?

[johnsonfarm]

Just discovered a couple chicks under my broody hen this morning, she is in a nest box with another hen that is also broody and started sitting around the same time.

When and how should I try to move her and maybe her roommate (since they seem to be co-parenting) + chicks to a separate enclosure? Do I wait and see if the other eggs hatch? I don't want the hatched ones to starve or dehydrate.

BTW, they are bantam cochins.

 

[bobbi-j]

I'd leave them. I've had better luck with my broodies raising their babies with the flock as far as integration is concerned. Mama will protect those babies fiercely, and the other hens learn to mind their manners.

If you feel you need to move them, I'd wait until you're sure all have hatched that are going to - usually within 24 hours after the first one has hatched if the eggs were all set at the same time.

 

[WVduckchick]

I agree with bobbi-j!

And you may also consider if the other hens can get to them, you may want to block them off, just for a day or two to let the mommas have some time with the babies. Put feed and water near enough by for them to get to it. Then once all the chicks are hatched and up and about, the mommas will do the "introductions".

** Still keep an eye on them. I recently had 2 hens, and one finally decided that she wanted all the babies for herself. So although they have sat together, they still need to be monitored to make sure everything is still going smoothly.

Good luck!

 

[johnsonfarm]

I think I will still move them because of the way the coop is set up, the water and feed are up higher than the chicks could reach and the nestbox is small, too small to add another feed/water. But I'll give it another 24 hours to be sure everyone has hatched. I'll just keep an eye on them. Mom's still sitting pretty tight.

The first time this hen hatched chicks, she had disappeared and hid behind the garage, so when she came out with 9 babies, we caught everyone and put them in a separate brooder hutch. The second time she hatched a chick, she was already in a separate enclosure. So this is a first for me!

 

[bobbi-j]

My broodies keep to themselves with the chicks for the first few days after hatching. I put the chick waterer and feeder into the coop so mama can get them eating and drinking.