Expecting chicks from one of my hens

[Vincentville farm]

I agree with @LaurenRitz, let the hen do her thing, they've been being chickens a lot longer than we've been chicken keepers I ordered 8 chicks (they sent 10) for one of my broodies this year, I waited till it was dark and slipped them under her in the nest box one at a time and left her be. I went out to check very early in the morning to be sure she had accepted them, all was well. I always place a couple chick waterers and feeders around the run for easy access. Momma takes them out of the nest box when she's ready, then outside when she's ready for that. I do not intervene or mess with anything as long as things are looking kosher within the flock. I have never had to isolate a broody and her chicks from the flock, but that's just me and my situation, things may be different for you, so you have to figure out what is going to work best for you and your situation. Broodies with babies are an amazing thing to see!

Did you give them to her one a day or just wait a few minutes before slipping the next one under her?

 

[LaurenRitz]

Did you give them to her one a day or just wait a few minutes before slipping the next one under her?

I didn't wait even a few minutes. Kept her distracted with one hand and dumped the chicks behind her in the box with the other.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I didn't wait even a few minutes. Kept her distracted with one hand and dumped the chicks behind her in the box with the other.

I love the twinkle that gets in their eyes when all of a sudden they feel a bunch of movement behind them in the nest box. Kind of a 'what on earth?!' Look

 

[LaurenRitz]

One first time broody heard the babies, looked startled, stood up, looked under herself, then started talking to them and that was it. You can see the moment that it clicks. It's a happy dance in chicken and it's impossible to describe.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Any advice would be appreciated. PLEASE keep the criticism to a minimum.

Don't be afraid to ask questions on here. Some people will say things to try to scare you. Some will talk down to you. Hard as that can be you need to try to ignore them. We all started where you are. There are things you just don't know yet. Before long you will be one of the experienced people giving sound advice.

My nesting boxes are up off the floor by about 18 inches to prevent predators getting to the eggs. My hens easily reach them but I'm CERTAIN the chicks won't be able to live with momma in one of these. I need to know what kind of nest I should make for her and her chicks and when I should transition her to this nest.

My nests are either 2 feet or 4 feet above the coop floor. I've seen a hen get her chicks out of a 10 feet high hay loft. She told them to jump down and they did, then bounced up and ran to her. My broody hens have never had a problem getting the chicks down from the nest. Some hens bring them off in less than 24 hours of the first one hatching, some wait until in the third day. The hen knows much better than I do when it is time to bring them off of the nest. I leave those decisions up to her.

They do not need a nest after they come off of the nest. The hen squats down on the coop floor and the chicks go under her to stay warm. That may be in a corner of the coop or in the middle of the floor.

How do I handle making sure the chicks have food without the other hens getting into it? I plan on moving my whole flock to whole flock crumble.

You can make some type of creep feeder. That is something with openings the chicks can get through with feed inside but the hens can't get into it to eat. You can make it as simple or as fancy as you wish. I've done that a few times but it isn't necessary.

The other chickens will eat food you set out for the chicks. They can be a pain in the butt. The bigger problem for me is that they scratch on the coop floor and cover the food and water with bedding. I put a large piece of cardboard over the bedding and set food and water on that. That makes it harder for them to scratch trash into the food and water.

I know from previously raising them from chicks that they foul their food and water frequently. How do I ensure the new babies have access to both?

Just keep an eye on it and change it out as necessary

I want to let them grow up naturally in the flock.

I do too. I do not isolate my hens when they are brooding the eggs or hatching. My hens raise the chicks with the flock from Day 1. But what does your coop and run look like? How big is it in feet or meters? Is it one of those small elevated coops with a ramp or is it a larger coop at ground level? What does your pop door look like? Basically, what do you have to work with? We all have different conditions so what works for one does not work for all.

My coop is 8 feet x 12 feet so the hen has a lot of coop floor to work with. It is at ground level but the pop door is about 12 inches above the coop floor and 12 inches above the dirt outside in the run. I use pavers to build steps so the chicks can hop up and down to enter and exit the coop. My broody hens tend to keep the chicks in the coop for two or three days before taking them outside. I have over 2,000 square feet available outside, much of it grass. Once the hen starts taking them outside she leads them out every morning and they stay outside all day. She takes them back inside to sleep at night.

I have food and water where the chicks can get to them in the coop and also outside. I'm down there at bedtime to lock the coop doors but also to make sure they all made it back inside. There have been a couple of times they needed my help, though usually the hen can manage on her own.

If you have a tiny coop or tiny run that could change things. A ramp may cause issues. People manage those things all the time but you might have to do things a little differently.

I already planned on putting them under her after dark and getting up VERY early to be sure she doesn't reject them.

An excellent plan.

I think I will rig up something like 'stair steps' platforms for her and her chicks to get down safely. I'll put water and feed on each landing.

I think you are making it too complicated. You can certainly try this if you wish but I'd try to keep it simpler. You might be surprised at how well the hen can manage with minimal help.

Good luck!

 

[Muser]

It's really nice to see all the different approaches people take. I think it screams volumes of we are all just trying our best and it really is about what suits you and your birds. Best of luck with the chickies and as @Ridgerunner said, you will be an expert in no time. Nothing like first hand experience to be the real teacher. Let's us know how you and they get on

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Did you give them to her one a day or just wait a few minutes before slipping the next one under her?

One every few seconds, I'd slip, wait a minute then the next one