Chicks Vs. Winter

[d.dachickenman]

I have a broody sitting in eggs and they are hopefully hatching on Oct 1st. I do not know what to do with the chicks after they hatch.
Should I put them inside for as long as possible?
Should I leave them in the coop?

Btw I live in southern Connecticut.

 

[SueT]

She'll keep them warm. Leave them with her. Is she with the flock?

 

[d.dachickenman]

She'll keep them warm. Leave them with her. Is she with the flock?

yes she is with the flock, what about food and water for the chicks?

 

[SueT]

I want to say, I have not had experience w a broody raising babies yet I am going by what I've read here on BYC. I am hoping some of the experts will chime in here with personal experiences.
What is her position in the pecking order? If she is high up, she has the best chance of success. If not, some people do sequester the mom and babies at first. For feed, I feed Flock Raiser to everyone, that all ages can eat. I'd make sure to have only waterers that the babies can't drown in.

 

[aart]

I have a broody sitting in eggs and they are hopefully hatching on Oct 1st. I do not know what to do with the chicks after they hatch.
Should I put them inside for as long as possible?
Should I leave them in the coop?

Btw I live in southern Connecticut.

Definitely leave chicks with mama....
....biggest plus to broody vs incubator,
she keeps them warm and integrates into the flock!

Is the nest near the floor?
Pics would help.
Have you candled the eggs to see if they are developing?

 

[d.dachickenman]

Definitely leave chicks with mama....
....biggest plus to broody vs incubator,
she keeps them warm and integrates into the flock!

Is the nest near the floor?
Pics would help.
Have you candled the eggs to see if they are developing?

She is in an egg box in our relatively small coop. I candled them and all had veins.

My main concern is food and water, If I leave the chicks with the flock, what food do I give them and how do I set up the water to stop drowning?

 

[LABElle1225]

She is in an egg box in our relatively small coop. I candled them and all had veins.

My main concern is food and water, If I leave the chicks with the flock, what food do I give them and how do I set up the water to stop drowning?

We have the large PVC tube style with nipples for our flock and smaller version for our pullet area. Is it possible to make a small area only the babies can access? For food, water, and to get away?

 

[Duck-duck-goose]

I'm no expert but I have tried both ways (bator-brooder vs. Broody mama) and they each have their benefits depending on intended outcome. For me it's down to if I want the babies to become part of an existing flock or for sale or building new flock. If I want them to join my gang then definitely I employ my biggest, bossiest, broodiest hen. In my case, usually my mama Fraggle silkie. If I want a new flock that I will have more hands on attention to my new guys then its bator-broader route for me. And no/less drown waterers can be put together with a bucket and I use glazed ceramic saucers for BIG flower pots from Ocean State. Trickiest thing is flipping it upside down full of water. I'm sure I've seen DIY threads on here for them. Good luck!

 

[Duck-duck-goose]

Oh and ofcourse a heated waterer pad for the winter. As long as you give them the food water and a draft free dry place to sleep mama knows best. Oh and I sprinkle damp starter crumbles and crushed up mealworms for mama and babies near nests. But totally not necessary if u use a good flock raise crumble, I like 18-20% and I spoil mine in winter with a scattering of mealworms daily

 

[sumi]

I had a broody hatch and raise chicks mid-winter when I lived in South Africa, where the winters are cold enough, but not brutal. I remember her taking the tiny little ones out first thing in the morning when we had frost on the ground. They ran around happily, ducking under mom now and then for a quick warm-up and then off again.