grafting chicks to broody hen

[lrogala]

Hello. I'm new to this great forum. I am new to the chicken world. we have 5 year old chickens, one very broody one.they live in a coop with raised hen house with nests, and we let them run around freely when we're home; they always come back to henhouse to lay.we have one broody bossy hen who wont leave her box.upon suggestion of others, since we wanted to add to our group, we snuck in two baby chicks under her last night. She is fine with it, which is great. but in the morning, when other hens came in to lay, they were very upset to see a chick poking its head out, and then scurrying about.We quickly took intruding hen out, and blocked door to this darkend hen house. Do we have to keep brooking hen with two chicks separate from others, or will she just protect them and we don't have to worry. the gal at the feed store who encourage me to do this said I didn't have to worry, she'd do all the protecting. but my other hens want to go in there to lay. Also this is raised and I wondered if chicks can walk down the ramp even. Maybe I move them with broody mother to a new nest on the floor in a corner of the coop, so others can lay in their usual spot. But again, I'm worried about them freely wandering about in coop with other hens. Just dont know if I can really trust mother to protect. Wondering if I was too naive when I got into all this. Hate to lose these chicks. Mother seems bonded though, so that is good. Any suggestions?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum!

Glad you are here!

There are risks with any living animals. Sometimes things do go wrong. They are living animals and anything can happen But I like raising chicks with a broody hen. She does all the work and usually does a real good job.

Some flocks have hens that seek out and destroy young chicks. A whole lot don't. Most broodies will strongly defend their chicks, but occasionally one will not. Broodies have been raising chicks with flocks for thousands of years. They usually are quite successful.

What I suggest, if you can, is to put Mama and her babies in an enclosure for a day or two. A dog crate or something like that can work quite well. Have food and water in it. This is just to let the chicks get used to eating and drinking away from the other hens. After a day or two, turn them loose. They should do fine and Mama should take care of them. If you can, put that crate or enclosure in the coop. Mama will probably want to take her chicks back to that area every night, but once you turn them loose, you can remove the enclosure if you wish. Usually the broody will just find a corner of the coop floor to keep her chicks at night, or sometimes they want to use a nest.

Provide food and water where the chicks can easily get to it. The other hens will possibly decide that what you give the chicks is better than what they are eating, even if it is the same thing. I built a little thing to set over the chick's feed. The chicks can get in through the ends but the hens cannot get to the feed inside. I know this needs a little repair, but here it is. I just set one of those red chick feeders in this.

Since chicks are not supposed to eat Layer feed because of the calcium, I feed them all Grower with oyster shell on the side. This way, only the ones that need it get the extra calcium.

There really is not a whole lot more to it than that. You don't absolutely have to lock them away for a day or two, but I feel little overprotective. I do think it helps and I do have a place prepared for that.

Good luck!