Rebecca Smith
Hatching
Hello,
I am new to the chicken world as we got our first chicken a year ago. We have 6 hens and no roos. I have a broody hen and 'adopted' 5 fertilized eggs from a friend. I placed them under my broody hen and she has been diligently sitting on them. They are due to hatch on July 21st. I currently have two coops. One is smaller and houses two of my chickens, the other houses 4. My broody hen is currently in the larger house and doesn't seem to be bothered by the other hens. My questions is: Is it ok to allow her to hatch her eggs and then move her and her chicks to the small coop alone so that she can raise them, or should I build a brooder box for the chicks to live in alone after they hatch? Thanks in advance for any of yoru expert advice!
I am new to the chicken world as we got our first chicken a year ago. We have 6 hens and no roos. I have a broody hen and 'adopted' 5 fertilized eggs from a friend. I placed them under my broody hen and she has been diligently sitting on them. They are due to hatch on July 21st. I currently have two coops. One is smaller and houses two of my chickens, the other houses 4. My broody hen is currently in the larger house and doesn't seem to be bothered by the other hens. My questions is: Is it ok to allow her to hatch her eggs and then move her and her chicks to the small coop alone so that she can raise them, or should I build a brooder box for the chicks to live in alone after they hatch? Thanks in advance for any of yoru expert advice!
YAY! Baby chicks are SO much fun hen you get to see them hatch, and have a mother hen do it for you!
Mother hens know what is best for their chicks, and its SO much easier to let them do their thing instead of moving them to a brooder box. I would suggest moving them to the bigger coop and letting her raise them herself! She will teach them the ins and outs! That way she can keep them warm, and you won't have to have the hazard of keeping a brooder light on them! 
Hope this helps! Good luck! 
