How do I get broody Hen back with the flock?

[ChicksR4Me]

I have a chicken that went broody decided to let her hatch some eggs. She has been seperated from the flock since 2 days before eggs were due to hatch. She hatched 6 out of the 8 eggs. The chicks are now 2 weeks old and seem very healthy and happy. I also have five 1 week old chicks that I purchased from the feed store. I would like to put all the babies together while they are so young but I believe I will need to get the momma hen out first. I would like to put her back in the coop with the original flock. Does anyone know how to do this safely? Will she be accepted back into the flock she has been away from for 2 weeks?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Well, I'm not sure what to tell you to do but I can tell you from my own personal experience. I had 4 hens that went broody at one time. Hen #2 decided to cut her babies off from her at about 4 weeks after hatching. She didn't want to have anything to do with them. I have about 5 different coops on m property, so she tried to fit in witih all 5. Each time, they kicked her out of the groups durign the day and off the roosts at night. She tried and tried and tried every day and night to fit in with any group that would accept her. She finally was able to fit in with the Barred Rocks, New Hampshire Reds and the Cornish Hen group after days and days of trying. They let her roost with them and eat and free range. I would say that it just takes time. I was always so disappointed when I would see the other chickens pick and fight with her but I knew that she had to handle the problem herself and I didn't want to step in. And that's what I did and she was able to become a part of one of my 5 chicken groups after being separated from all of the chickens for about 4 weeks. I hope that gives you some idea of what could happen. I wish you luck.

 

[Beekissed]

You need to rig up a pen where they can see her for a couple of days. They will still investigate and maybe peck her a few times but not as bad as if you just put her back in.

If it were me, I'd slip your week olds in under her in the middle of the night so she can raise them along with her other biddies. Then, let the whole flock see them, hear them but not be able to reach them until they are all used to each other again.

I did this with all my broodies. Even had one kind of leave her chicks behind at night and go back to the roosts with the big gals once she was back in the flock. It didn't take but 2 days for the youngsters to get up on that roost with her. They were on their own faster than all my other chicks.

I currently have a set of three that are too chicken to roost with the rest of the flock and still try to sleep in the nests.

 

[ChicksR4Me]

Wow.. I thought about putting the 1 week olds in with the others but didn't really know how to go about it. I was afraid the mother would hurt them since they are not hers. I was also wondering if 11 chicks would be too many for her. How would I get them in there?

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I keep my broodies & their chicks together in a pen. When the hens decide to leave their chicks, anywhere from 4-9 weeks for my hens, they simply jump the fence & rejoin their flock. I think if any other chicken dares to bother them they just say "Listen, chick! I just gave birth & raised a batch of children, there's nothing you can do to frighten me more!"

But I think you'll have a harder time separating the hen from her chicks before she's ready to call it quits than you will in re-introducing her to the flock. You can try putting the new chicks under the hen at night. Many hens will then adopt them -- but mine must have been reading different instruction manuals, they never would accept new chicks. You can also keep the new chicks in a little pen/cage near the chicks with the hen. In a few weeks she'll be ready to say good-bye and then you can meld the two groups of chicks.

 

[ChicksR4Me]

well... since it is the middle of the night and I don't have to work tomorrow and can keep an eye on them, I took the plunge and put the 1 week old babies in with the mother and her 2 week olds. I'm so shaking for fear they would get hurt. It was really amazing though. My RIR mother took them right under her wing and the babies seem to know just what to do and now they are all cuddling together. I'm sure I will be out there before the sun comes up to see if they are getting along when it's time to wake up. I pray all goes well. If I could I think I would sleep in the coop tonight.. lol Thanks for your replys. If you would like I will keep you posted on how it goes in the morning

 

[kuntrygirl]

Awwwwwwwwwww, that's so sweet. I'm sure everything will all work out. Keep us posted.

 

[stuckinthecity]

Yay for the RIR that went broody!

Im hoping everything works out, Ive had alot of questions about broodies...so this will also help me out.

 

[ChicksR4Me]

Update: I went to the coop this morning and momma chicken and just her babies were out of the box on the other side of the coop and the 5 babies I added last night were still in the box sleeping. I watched as they woke up and started wondering out of the nest. The momma chicken didn't want anything to do with them and seemed agitated with them. She does not like them at all so I decided to get them out before she hurt them. I opened the run door so momma and her babies would go outside. They did as planned and so I took my box, went into the coop to get the babies and one of them ran outside!

So I quickly gathered the four inside and went outside the baby was standing alone. Then the other babies went by her and didn't have a problem with her but momma chichen did. She ran over with her ruffled feathers and gave baby a little peck. I ran in and pushed her away with my foot, grabbed the baby and headed for the door. Momma tried to attack me as I was leaving but I escaped unharmmed and babies all look fine and unharmed. So babies are back in their 2' x 4' brooder box safe and sound. But we have decided we are going to build a shelter for them with their own run to stay in till momma is ready to move back to the original flock.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Your hen must hear the same voices in her head as my broody hens. My hens will accept different chicks under their wings at night, but once the sun shines on them, they want NOTHING to do with them. Even when the chicks look identical to their own, somehow they can tell the difference. Not only will they refuse to adopt them, but they'll go after them & peck them to keep them away.

You can make an easy temporary enclosure for those chicks with the wire top of a rabbit cage, just set it on the ground in the same pen with the other chicks, so they can start to get to know each other. You'll probably need to keep both batches of chicks together after the Mama hen leaves hers.