Do I take the chicks from Momma Hen?

[beckyloveschicks]

I have a hen sitting on about a dozen eggs. I have really no idea how long she's been broody, as she built her nest and laid her eggs under the floor boards of an old dog house in the yard. But I've been checking every day, listening for peeps and seeing if I can see anything. When the chicks do hatch, should I gather them up and take them away from mom? Mom free ranges along with about 15 other chickens (and 4 goats) in a 1 acre "run." And by free range, I mean they are free 24/7, I don't put them up at night at all. They put themselves to bed in yhe coop or on different roosts around the place. She and her mate actually roost in a tree.

Should I take the chicks? I'm thinking yes to protect them from the other birds...

 

[Chickenfiend]

I think they could stay with her. Her instincts will kick in and she will know what to do to raise and protect her chicks. Plus it would be fun watching them

 

[Godsgrl]

I would leave the babies with the hen. She should take good care of them, showing then where food is, and all about the big ole world. If something scares the babies, or they get cold, they will all pile up under the hen until things get better.

The hen will sleep where her nest currently is until the babies are old enough to roost up in the trees with her. Just make sure the babies can get in and out-we had to use ramps with ours.

Have fun watching mom and babies, they are pure joy to watch, and congrats on the upcoming fuzzies.

 

[beckyloveschicks]

Great! That makes sense. I can't wait to see them.

 

[fieldsems]

I have a question on this subject please. If you leave the chicks with the mom how do they get to water our waterers are suspended high do they need their own little water container and the same for food?

 

[Barnyard]

Quote:
If you have hanging waterer's and feeder's, then yes they will need there own untile they are big eoungh to reach the hanging one's.

 

[moodusnewchick]

Is there a need to ever provide a heat lamp for the chicks when they're being raised with mama? like does she ever leave to get herself food and water (and socialize) long enough for them to get a chill?

 

[pkeeler]

You might want to set up a brooder just in case she abandons them. Many breeds have their motherly instincts bred out of them.

 

[Wildsky]

I have three momma hens right now - raising their babies in the flock. They all take good care of their babies and the other hens (and roo) seem to ignore the babies for the most part.

Mom's provide all the warmth, all the training and teaching things, its so easy to let them just do what they're supposed to.

 

[redkan]

Quote:
I've never provided a heat lamp for my chicks that are raised by mom and I've had them hatch out in May when there are still plenty of cool days. They only time I ever lost a chick was due to one trying to swim in a water bucket, otherwise mom takes excellent care and provides all they need. That said, I do a head count every morning and night, even risking being pecked by picking up mom to count underneath her.