do i separate the mother and her chicks?

[sydney13]

im getting chickens and wanted to start by buying a adult rhode island red and silkie and then whichever goes broody first to be a foster mom for hatchery chicks. if its just two chickens in the coop and then i give one chicks to raise should i separate the two adults? Is it best to leave the mom and her chicks in the coop and take out the other hen or to put the mother and chicks in a separate pen and leave the other hen in the coop? When age should the chick be when the go in the same house with their mom and other hen?

 

[chickeypeep101]

You should separate them.

 

[MissPrissy]

Am I reading correctly that you plan to acquire chicks and then give them to a hen to raise?

Not every hen will accept chicks. Some hens will kill off chicks placed with her.

If you get a broody and let her hatch her own chicks, then you should give her a place of her own for incubation and the early days after hatching.

 

[aussieheelr]

I let my broody be seperate until she hatched her own chicks then put her back outside in the coop with the rest of the population after the chicks were 3 days old. They get along just fine with the rest and are now almost 2 months old

 

[Dar]

Quote:
glad to see you are back MP

(sorry for the hijack)

 

[zowieyellowflame]

I kept my 2 broodys last season with the main flock. (8 hens and a rooster) I think that is best because I didn't want to have to try to introduce them later. The mom should protect the chicks. I have only one season in but i intend to do it that way again.

 

[MissPrissy]

Thanks, Dar!