How do I get broody Hen back with the flock?

[kuntrygirl]

WOW ! Having chickens is so much fun. There is never a dull moment.

 

[La Banan]

Our broody hen hatched two out of the six eggs she was sitting. We've kept the whole works of them together but the broody one and two chicks had a dog kennel within the coop so they could be a little private. Now mama keeps them in the corner under the roost (I know I know!) They range all day long. We don't give anyone a chance to be bored and so far so good. The littlest one had to be home cuddled for a couple of days but mama accepted her back and they all seem fine. My guy is out killing the rooster right now. He hates to do it but that is one mean rooster! I feel bad because he attacks me and not Ron but I can't have kids over or anyone - the only one he doesn't attack is Ron and now poor Ron has to send him to freezer camp. I think I was a bit slow on the uptake but now I really get it. Even if you only want the eggs and don't want to eat the chickens at all if you're going to have chickens there is going to be culling and death. So I will send him on to his next life with some Buddhist chants and hope he chooses to be something else than a mean rooster next time.
sorry, didn't mean to go off topic but I get so antsy when ron has to do the birds in...

 

[ChicksR4Me]

Another update and still more questions and problems..
I ended up giving the mother hen another week with her babies and then I felt I needed to mix the babies together while they were young. So, I got a nice sized rabbit hutch that has a hardware cloth mesh floor and put momma hen in there. She was a very unhappy camper but settled down in a few days and all babies are mixing well.

The problem is that she needs to go back with her original flock. I was wondering if the flock would welcome her back peacefully. Well.. they do not. I put her in during the night while roosting and the first night went good. But in the morning they were mean to her but she's was holding her own pretty good. It's been 4 days now and the flock goes outside every morning but momma stays inside. I put water inside since she's not coming out. I haven't seen any blood drawn but it scares me to death when they all gang up on her. I've blocked the door for a few hours each day so she can have some time without threats from the other birds but I know they need to mix.. and learn to get along. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this process any better or do I have to just wait it out? Or am I making a mistake keeping her in there? I just don't know. One thing I do know is momma is sure happy to see me when I go visit her. She even jumped on DH back when he went out to feed them today.

Please help me do the right thing for my broody girl.

 

[Brownbaybettie]

I am having the same problem. My broody isn't being accepted and I want to keep all the baby chickens together but the chicks that are accepted by mama keep cheeping and it breaks my heart.

My broody doesn't get along with alpha and my alpha is pretty amazing. My broody is mean pretty much all the time and we give her a wide birth even when she isn't broody. I want the baby chicks that is accepted by her to have a mama and a bit of a protector but when do I say sorry Mama baby chicks is going with others and you need to be part of the flock now.

 

[Mrs. K]

Next time, you might just leave her with the flock. Then they don't forget her, and you can raise the chicks right in the flock and don't have to integrate them later on either. Sometimes you can interfere too much.

 

[aart]

Are broody and chicks in sight of the flock?
They should be.
Then a week or two after hatch remove the separation and let broody mama work it.