Confined broody chicken

[Sbailey]

I have been raising chickens a while. I have black copper Marans, blue splash Marans, speckled Sussex , cream legbars, and olive eggers. I have always free range so i have never been faced with the issue of what to do with a hen with chicks that are confined. I’m just not sure about how the other chickens and the rooster will do with the chicks. She is still on the nest right now. Just wondering what suggestions you all had. Thank you in advance.

 

[sourland]

Many introduce to the flock once the chicks are fully mobile - monitor closely upon introduction. @DobieLover - care to advise ?

 

[MarkJr]

Turn them loose on the world. Momma will teach and integrate them to the flock. If you’re looking at being extra helpful, a ground level nest for momma and chicks would be handy. She will figure that part out too, but a cubby that she can defend sure seems to be a favorite.

 

[DobieLover]

I have been raising chickens a while. I have black copper Marans, blue splash Marans, speckled Sussex , cream legbars, and olive eggers. I have always free range so i have never been faced with the issue of what to do with a hen with chicks that are confined. I’m just not sure about how the other chickens and the rooster will do with the chicks. She is still on the nest right now. Just wondering what suggestions you all had. Thank you in advance.

Welcome to BYC!
I don't free range but my flock has access to a 1/3 acre pen along with their coop and run. I have a separate brooder room/maternity ward where the broody hens sit. This maternity ward can be seen by all the flock and has a sliding door that leads into the coop and it's own covered run attached.

I wait until the chicks are active and eating before I open the door to the ward and let her take them out if she wants. When she takes them into the flock depends on a lot of things including the weather, the brood size, her flock ranking prior to going broody, chick mobility, etc.

I happen to have an awesome flock rooster (you be quiet, @sourland!) who does an amazing job with his hens and chicks. I have never seen any aggression with the other hens and chicks hatched out in the flock. One observation I have seen is that pullets/cockerels are absolutely not tolerated near the chicks. They are ruthlessly driven off by the broody.

If you are feeding layer feed, you will want your entire flock switched over to chick starter, Flock Raiser or All Flock that the broody mother will feed the chicks. Put out oyster shell on the side in multiple containers for your laying hens/pullets and you can feed them this way for life.

When mom heads out with the chicks, she will initially not stray far from the coop/run. As the chicks mature, she will take them further to forage. When they are around 3-4 weeks old, she will likely take them to the roost. Again, pullets/cockerels will be driven off the roost by her if she doesn't like how close they are.

It's a wonderful thing you are about to experience! Enjoy it!

 

[Sbailey]

I have been raising chickens a while. I have black copper Marans, blue splash Marans, speckled Sussex , cream legbars, and olive eggers. I have always free range so i have never been faced with the issue of what to do with a hen with chicks that are confined. I’m just not sure about how the other chickens and the rooster will do with the chicks. She is still on the nest right now. Just wondering what suggestions you all had. Thank you in advance.

I really didn’t make sense in my statement above. My chickens are now in a confined area. The broody hen is in the chicken coop which she shares with the other chickens and a rooster. From the day she went broody the eggs are supposed to hatch 1 Sept. It has become a real battle in the coop because everyone wants to lay their egg where she is nesting. We have put x’s on the eggs under her so we know which are hers. I am assuming I need to take her out of the coop and place her in a separate area until the chicks are big...bigger? Will this disturb her where she won’t set on her eggs ?

 

[MarkJr]

Have you counted the days???

If you’re worried about the others bothering fresh chicks you could lock her in at day 18. She will hatch out and the others will be forced to move elsewhere. As for moving eggs and broody, it’s typically done as a last resort.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I mark my eggs so I can take the ones that aren't growing (I use a sharpie because pencil will run off in hours)

I seperated one hen and her chicks ( mostly so she eoulfncontinue to sit on one last egg) and it was harder to introduce her and the chicks back than letting them stay the whole time with the main flock

 

[Sbailey]

Thank you so much! ..., now I have 2 broody hens and they’re sitting side by side! I love chickens!