- Oct 7, 2011
- 1,483
- 22
- 143
You highlight my favorite reasoning behind using the broodies as much as possible. My flock is very mixed, and I really like keeping them together. I don't want to have to separate anymore than absolutely necessary and having mom integrate chicks into the flock is perfect for me.
you can do it either way....we have done both.
for the longest time we would take the chicks and put them in the brooder. This last time we let Pretty Girl keep the 3 chicks she hatched. We moved her and the chicks into the garage for about a week and but her and the babies in an open pet taxi with food and water. then moved them in the taxi to the coop, her and the babys are doing great.....they are in with all the other chickens of all different sizes and ages, and 2 roosters.....it's been like this for 2-3 weeks now and I am going to do it like this more often, there is no integrating teen chickens into the flock this way... and the babys free range with Pretty Girl all day, and sleep with the flock every night....it's the neatest thing to watch!!! Now we have 2 more ladys sitting on 15 eggs each, and 15 in the gopherbator.