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BrycieB2

Hatching
Nov 25, 2023
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Almost a year ago I bought 8 chicks from a farm store near Boise. Bantoms and Rhode Island reds. Had one fatality, my cat, she’s since learned she will be removed from the new family if it happens again and it hasn’t. Not to mention my flock is almost fully mature. Another one of my chicks just disappeared and have no clue what happened. I’ve also acquired 3 seabrights but gave the rooster to a farmer that could properly take him in. Also have an Easter egger? Not sure what she is exactly but lays wonderful blue eggs on a daily basis. Anyway I thought I had 2 MIA hens but recently found one under my wood pile. ( I let my chickens free range) she was laying on her nest that contained about a dozen apparently fertile eggs as well as a chick barely a couple days old. So my daughter had to have them since I was removing the pile they were under. That night 4 of the dozen eggs hatched. And one last night. So she was hiding her eggs and staying out all night with them. My question is, how long until I can introduce them into the flock? Should I have taken them away from there momma? They are only about a week old but seem to be very healthy. Any thing I need to be doing for them? Thanks for any input in advance.
 
Hello and welcome to BYC! :frowGlad you joined.

BrycieB2 said:
My question is, how long until I can introduce them into the flock?
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Immediately. What does your coop look like? Do they have to navigate a ramp, use steps or just walk into the coop?
BrycieB2 said:
Any thing I need to be doing for them?
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She will continue to nest with them on the floor of the coop in a corner until she's ready to take them to the roost. So make sure you have lots of fluffy dry bedding for her to use to make a nest every night. Make sure that you have chick safe waterers for them. Also have the entire flock on something appropriate like All Flock or Flock Raiser or even a good 18 to 20% chick starter crumble. Leave a couple of containers of oyster shell on the side for free choice feeding by the active layers in the flock.
 
Welcome to BYC. What @DobieLover says
I never remove my broodies from the flock. As long as they are in a safe place and not too far off the ground, I just let them do it their way. I just make sure they have access to water and an all flock feed.
If you wait too long to introduce a broody and chicks back to the flock, the mother will not protect her chicks. If you do it early she will protect them (even from a cat) and teach them to fit in with the flock.
 

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