Expecting chicks from one of my hens

[Vincentville farm]

I am new to chicken life. It's been a little over a year since I started my flock. One of my hens has gone broody and I decided to let her hatch 4 eggs. Two have broken along the way and one is infertile. We are left with one chick which we HOPE will hatch around the 18th of July. I have ordered 3 chicks on line, as none of the stores around us have chicks at this time of year. They will be hatching and shipping on the 15th. I'm hopeful that they will arrive about the same time hers hatches.
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.
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. They were on this for a long time before I switched them to layer crumble. 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? I have the ability to isolate a portion of my coop and run but I don't really want to do that. I want to let them grow up naturally in the flock.
Any advice would be appreciated. PLEASE keep the criticism to a minimum.

 

[Muser]

Hi there, from my experience in this forum, people aren't too critical so you should be OK there

I think it might be worth 'sneaking' the chicks under her in the night when she's sleeping. Mother hens may reject chicks if they don't think they've hatched from under them (not all I might add, some adopt immediately, depends on how your girl is feeling about them but to mitigate that risk do the sneaky method).

I have my broody hens in a mini coop/run that is in the main run where all the others can see them but not access them. This is also on the floor in case a chick falls out of the nesting area. Mum can eat the chick crumb since she won't need layer feed until she starts laying again and will generally tidbit for the new babies. Waterer for chicks should be down low so all can reach and have pebbles/marbles in it to avoid accidental drowing. Straw as a base is fine. In your case it might be worth moving her sooner rather than later but you may break broodiness by moving her and be really careful with the egg! Its best not to move the egg in the final week as this is when the chicks start adjusting into the hatching position within the egg. Seems like a tricky situation. Moving her near hatching time may stress her too. I moved my broody before she was committed to sitting so it was easier but you are quite far along with the brood so I'm guessing that's your best option. People may disagree with me and I welcome opinions, we're all just trying to do the best for our feather babies

Good luck with the babies and mummy hen

 

[50-45-1]

All good questions.
I too ordered day old chicks for a broody to raise along with her eggs she would hatch.
I ordered some naked necks to add to my flock.
My set up is different than yours as I put my broodies in hutches, not leave them in nest boxes with the other hens.

Once the chicke are 2 weeks old I put mama and babies back into the coop (at night). They usually nest in some straw in a corner of my coop them she moves herself and babies to the roost with her when they can fly up to them.
Flocks are different. Some will not bother chicks, some will. here is where the temperment of your broody comes in and where she stands on the pecking order. Some broodies can keep the others away from harming her babies, some cant. This is why I wait 2 weeks. The chicks are half feathered and able to escape harm.
As far as fouled feed, raise your feeding station and water up (I use a foot long piece of 2x10).
Chick feed will not harm your layers, but it's pretty important to keep the chicks nutritional needs met.
What do you mean by preditors getting at your eggs? Is your coop not secure?

 

[50-45-1]

Here is my broody Jade and her brood with turkens (naked necks) now.

I agree with @Muser about adding chicks after dark. This is how I do it also.

 

[LaurenRitz]

The 18 inches shouldn't be an issue. Let her hatch her chick, then introduce the others, and once they're all set as a family you can move the chicks to the floor if Mom will let you touch them. She will go where the babies are. If she won't let you touch them, put up a lower platform just below the nest. Falling 18 inches shouldn't be an issue, but better to avoid the problem if possible. She knows what to do, and when the time is right she'll take them down on her own.

 

[Chickenshannanigans]

Here is my broody Jade and her brood with turkens (naked necks) now.
View attachment 3887115
I agree with @Muser about adding chicks after dark. This is how I do it also.

So cute!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

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!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Honestly, if the chicks look like the one that she hatches or similar, you can probably just give them to her. I don't do the whole 'introduce at night' thing when I'm grafting, but I also have a back up ready in case that hen (or any avaliable) don't want the chicks. Heck, I had a broody hen I just got to accept week old ducklings from tsc last night.

As for a nest, she'll usually figure that out herself after she's done setting and find somewhere she feels safe with her chicks (usually somewhere you can't reach, lol)

 

[Vincentville farm]

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

 

[Vincentville farm]

All good questions.
I too ordered day old chicks for a broody to raise along with her eggs she would hatch.
I ordered some naked necks to add to my flock.
My set up is different than yours as I put my broodies in hutches, not leave them in nest boxes with the other hens.
View attachment 3887085
Once the chicke are 2 weeks old I put mama and babies back into the coop (at night). They usually nest in some straw in a corner of my coop them she moves herself and babies to the roost with her when they can fly up to them.
Flocks are different. Some will not bother chicks, some will. here is where the temperment of your broody comes in and where she stands on the pecking order. Some broodies can keep the others away from harming her babies, some cant. This is why I wait 2 weeks. The chicks are half feathered and able to escape harm.
As far as fouled feed, raise your feeding station and water up (I use a foot long piece of 2x10).
Chick feed will not harm your layers, but it's pretty important to keep the chicks nutritional needs met.
What do you mean by preditors getting at your eggs? Is your coop not secure?

As far as predators go, my coop and run are pretty predator proof but mice and or rats seem to be able to get into even the most well prepared setup. So far, I've had NONE. The person that helped me with making my coop and set them to this height for that reason.
Thanks for the advice