How long do I need to keep the broody and her new chicks separate?

[Delmar]

So all the eggs have hatched. How long do I need to keep the broody and the new chicks separate from the rest of the birds? Can I trust her to protect them from the others right now?

 

[JayneMae]

i'd say keep an eye on them for a while. some hens do well protecting and providing for their young, some don't.

congrats on the new chickies!

 

[Delmar]

Quote:
So maybe open the pen up when I have time to sit there and watch them for an hour or so.

 

[Impress]

That is your best bet, supervise that hen with the chicks around the other chickens. You will be able to tell if she is going to be a good Mom and handle it with some supervision. If she lets them run off and ignores them, or doesn't make sure the other chickens respect her distance she wants them to stay at, you might have a problem.

 

[Delmar]

I sat out there for a while this afternoon with the top of the cage. Momma bird did chase away anybody that got real close. I think we are going to be good to go to turn them loose, but I want to do a little rooster killing first! Al my adult hes have missing saddle feathers and she has a 3 week head start growing them back. I don't want her to loose that!