hen raising chicks vs. brooder??

[prairiepearls]

This is perfect! I slipped two TSC chicks under my hen who'd been broody for 3 weeks, and she's accepted them just fine! The new little family is in a little cage in the big coop now -- my only worry is when to open the cage door and let them mix with my other 3 hens.

 

[WickeeChickee]

This is exactly my question as well, so I'm bumping this thread in the hope that one of y'all will take pity on us and respond with some pearls of wisdom!

 

[ChickenLegs13]

I would prefer to leave mine with the flock but then there's the issue of chicks eating layer feed. Due to the nature of my breed that's not possible anyway because my hens turn evil when they have chicks. They will attack the other hens and kill each other's chicks so each hen w/chicks must have their own pen.
The only time I brood chicks without a hen is when I have more broody hens than pens to keep them in, then I'll mix 20-30 chicks in 1 pen, without any hens. I'll throw a broody rooster in with them to teach them how to scratch and act like a chicken. When they get about 4 months old I cull the pullets and put them in the layer flock and get ready to start eating the roosters as they get big enough.

 

[ParadiseHens]

5 chicks hatched from a clutch a couple if days ago. Mama hen is guarding them and introducing them to the pen. The rest of the flock are being respectful and giving them space. They are darling! I'm thrilled. I am so glad that I did not try to move her and the clutch again. The first time I did, she chose to not sit I. Them again. Now I'm observing everyone's behavior. I'm wondering about what to do about feed? I'll take the oyster shell out for awhile, but should I change from all purpose to starter for everyone for awhile?
Mama hen shared papaya and tomatoes from our yard, but I'm wondering about the feed?

 

[ChickenLegs13]

Paradise when you say "all purpose" if you mean something like Purina Flock Raiser then you can feed it to baby chicks and adult chickens as well.