Help me help my first-time chicken mama raise her babies right

[FenDruadin]

I've raised plenty of ducklings, tons of quail, and a few chickens indoors in brooders, but this is my first hatch with a broody hen. Help!

The babies hatched Saturday morning/afternoon and have been under mama since. They are in a secure raised brood box, with water & food on one side (chick starter and layer pellets both available), and the nest on the other side. It's about four feet long by three feet wide, so there is plenty of space. Wire bottom layered with straw, and a solid bottom in the nesting area (go figure--she chose to nest in the drafty corner instead of the cozy one on the other side...).

Now that they are hatched and healthy, what is the best way to manage them? Should I keep them locked up in the brood pen, and for how long? Or can I move them to a portable pen during the day so they can dig in the dirt and eat grass? How soon can they free range?

Is it very different from raising them in the house? Or do I just kinda keep them sheltered about as long as I would hand-raised babies?

Thanks in advance. And, just for fun, here are the lucky babies with their precious mama:

 

[Chirpy Chickens]

They're gorgeous. I would get them out into the portable pen as soon as they are strong and venturing out from underneath their mamma. I'd put them back in the pen they hatched in of a night though and as for free ranging i'd leave that for at least a few wks, or if you think it's safe before that then by all means let them free range, be careful of predators though.

Goodluck with it all.

 

[spartacus_63]

If I were you I would let momma decide. If your portable pen is secure and has shelter for them to sleep in, I would move them there. I would allow them to free range during the day and secure the pen at night to keep predators out. Mom will do all the hard work and the babes will be all the better for it.

If you like your hens friendly, you will have to socialize with them.

Nothing like a bunch of fuy butts peeking out of momma's wings. Have fun.

 

[FenDruadin]

Thanks, guys!! The portable pen is not night-time predator proof--it's enough to keep out curious dogs and foxes, hungry hawks, and a casually observing raccoon, but a determined raccoon or a burrowing predator could get in. So I may move them out there today if the weather is nice and they're puttering about in the pen, and then return them to the secure brood box tonight.

I did lose one of my chicks (from the batch this hen came from) to a hawk, so I know that's a significant danger.

And I DO want them sweet and friendly, so we intend to handle them a lot and feed them treats by hand.

Thanks for the tips & advice!