Hen hatched chicks

[Douglas Colman]

Hi my name is Doug and I'm new to raising chickens.
I would like to know if chicks hatched in the chicken run are protected by their mother or will the other adults attack and kill them.

 

[Mvan42]

The mother will protect them to the best of her ability.. mine normally won't let any of the others within a certain distance.. i haven't had any injuries or deaths letting a broody raise her chicks with the flock.
depends on how well she protects on if you will or won't have injuries or death.

 

[Acre4Me]

She should protect them. However, if she’s not a good mom then she, herself may kill the chicks (but that’s not not that common). If she’s low in pecking order, she may not be very good at protection from others. However, it will be pretty clear right away as to how she’ll be with the chicks, and how protective she is against the flock.

we’ve given a broody day old chicks and she was great with them (she adopted 3 different batches of day-olds and was a great momma hen). In our situation, we put her in a large brooder, on a nest with fake eggs. Chicks placed under her during the night/ in the dark. Then the chicks were raised by her and stayed away from the flock for at least a week (smaller fenced off area of the run connected to the brooder in the barn). We would begin to let her venture among the flock around 2 weeks when chicks were bigger/stronger and listened to momma very well and she still had raging momma hormones and would essentially attack any other chicken that came too close to her babies. Because we had the ability to separate momma and chicks for a short time, this is what we did.

 

[Perris]

hello @Douglas Colman ! welcome to BYC
I've had multiple broodies raise chicks in the flock and the chicks have been fine; the other hens will be interested to meet them when she brings them out, but I have not yet had one attack a chick. The roo will look after them too if you're lucky - and I haven't had a cockerel or subordinate roo attack them either. Indeed, one sub roo even played surrogate dad last year.

 

[Douglas Colman]

Thank you for your Swift response.
I have 4 RIR chicks 2wks old now but intend increasing the flock when I'm not such a newbie.
Thanks again.

 

[Douglas Colman]

Pl

hello @Douglas Colman ! welcome to BYC
I've had multiple broodies raise chicks in the flock and the chicks have been fine; the other hens will be interested to meet them when she brings them out, but I have not yet had one attack a chick. The roo will look after them too if you're lucky - and I haven't had a cockerel or subordinate roo attack them either. Indeed, one sub roo even played surrogate dad last year.

Please see the end of this thread

 

[Douglas Colman]

She should protect them. However, if she’s not a good mom then she, herself may kill the chicks (but that’s not not that common). If she’s low in pecking order, she may not be very good at protection from others. However, it will be pretty clear right away as to how she’ll be with the chicks, and how protective she is against the flock.

we’ve given a broody day old chicks and she was great with them (she adopted 3 different batches of day-olds and was a great momma hen). In our situation, we put her in a large brooder, on a nest with fake eggs. Chicks placed under her during the night/ in the dark. Then the chicks were raised by her and stayed away from the flock for at least a week (smaller fenced off area of the run connected to the brooder in the barn). We would begin to let her venture among the flock around 2 weeks when chicks were bigger/stronger and listened to momma very well and she still had raging momma hormones and would essentially attack any other chicken that came too close to her babies. Because we had the ability to separate momma and chicks for a short time, this is what we did.

Please see the end of this thread

 

[Douglas Colman]

The mother will protect them to the best of her ability.. mine normally won't let any of the others within a certain distance.. i haven't had any injuries or deaths letting a broody raise her chicks with the flock.
depends on how well she protects on if you will or won't have injuries or death.

Please see the end of this thread

 

[Phillyndilly]

She should protect them. However, if she’s not a good mom then she, herself may kill the chicks (but that’s not not that common). If she’s low in pecking order, she may not be very good at protection from others. However, it will be pretty clear right away as to how she’ll be with the chicks, and how protective she is against the flock.

we’ve given a broody day old chicks and she was great with them (she adopted 3 different batches of day-olds and was a great momma hen). In our situation, we put her in a large brooder, on a nest with fake eggs. Chicks placed under her during the night/ in the dark. Then the chicks were raised by her and stayed away from the flock for at least a week (smaller fenced off area of the run connected to the brooder in the barn). We would begin to let her venture among the flock around 2 weeks when chicks were bigger/stronger and listened to momma very well and she still had raging momma hormones and would essentially attack any other chicken that came too close to her babies. Because we had the ability to separate momma and chicks for a short time, this is what we did.

I was wondering this exact thing I have a silkie who is broody now and I’m letting her sit. My problem is 1, she is a silkie. 2, she’s def not top of the pecking order. 3, I have other birds in the run we have two turkeys, 5 geese, and ducks as well.
I’m thinking it’s not safe. I think I’m going to go with what u said a fence off a little separate area with a little chicken wire cover at the top cause my girls can sure jump lol

 

[Peppercorngal]

The smaller the chicken, the less of a "threat" they seem to the flock. So, as long as the mother hen will protect the chicks to some degree, they should be fine! I've had Maggie hatch out chicks many times and she raises them with the flock without any issues. I've also had chicks in the brooder that start to integrate at 4 weeks old without issue as well. Usually the hens and/or rooster are more interested in getting to share the chicks food than the chicks themselves!