Hen roosting away from 3 week old chicks

[bobbi-j]

OP, what are your night time temperatures? Your chicks will likely be fine as long as they are able to get out of the weather. They may prefer to huddle on the floor at night, and that's fine too. They can stay warmer that way. I am quite hands-off with my broodies and their babies. I figure they know far more about being chickens than I do.

 

[kllyjansen]

It will get down into the 60s at night, so they definitely won't be maintaining 80 degrees overnight.

I found the chicks huddled down for the night in some tall weeds in the outdoor run. After a bit of a nighttime rodeo with flashlights, we gathered 7 of the chicks and put them on the roost bar with momma. Hubby and I have a fierce debate of if there were 7 or 8 chicks, both of us equally confident that we are right. I'll go check the yard again in a bit for the 8th I'm certain was there an hour ago. All but 2 of the 7 chicks have since jumped to the ground and are huddled into a corner of the coop, but at least they are indoors. I'm inclined to let things go from here.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Let nature takes its course bet during the day she takes them keeps them safe

 

[BYC910]

As long as they are feathered out well they will be fine . Huddled together is better than roosting on a roost . They keep each other warm in the huddle .Chicks raised by a broody hen are tougher than those kept in a brooder anyway .

 

[kllyjansen]

Well everybody survived the night, but the hen definitely seems done with the chicks. The good news is that the chicks are mixing freely with the flock- even feeding alongside all the hens and roosters- and everyone is being nice.

 

[Spartan22]

Well everybody survived the night, but the hen definitely seems done with the chicks. The good news is that the chicks are mixing freely with the flock- even feeding alongside all the hens and roosters- and everyone is being nice.

One of the perks of a broody raising chicks, easy integration.

 

[bobbi-j]

Well everybody survived the night, but the hen definitely seems done with the chicks. The good news is that the chicks are mixing freely with the flock- even feeding alongside all the hens and roosters- and everyone is being nice.

And this is why I like to let the hen integrate them early.