How many chicks are too many?

[shishimarie]

I have a hatch going that I completely thought no eggs were developing. But out of the 13 eggs it turns out that 4 are developing. However I did talk to the guy I got the eggs from and he was willing to send me 8 one day old chicks around the time my batch should be hatching. I would still like to take the one day old chicks but with 4 eggs possibly hatching I’m worried that 12 chicks might be too much for momma hen. Any thoughts?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

How big is your coop + run? Numbers matter if crowding is an issue. Just see how mama does.....you can always put the day olds in a brooder if necessary. Good luck!

 

[50-45-1]

You dont say what breed your broody is but if she is a standard size she will do fine.
I had a hen once who stole a nest (she was gone and i thought a preditor got her) and one day she showed up in the yard with 16 chicks!

 

[shishimarie]

How big is your coop + run? Numbers matter if crowding is an issue. Just see how mama does.....you can always put the day olds in a brooder if necessary. Good luck!

I have a coop from the coop company. The run is 31.5” x 85.5” The coop is 55” x 26”. she had 4 chicks hatch earlier this summer. So the 5 of them were ok in the coop. I am getting a second coop n run. So I can split everyone up when they start to get big. Also I have family n friends interested in having some hens. So I will be giving them away they feather out.

 

[shishimarie]

You dont say what breed your broody is but if she is a standard size she will do fine.
I had a hen once who stole a nest (she was gone and i thought a preditor got her) and one day she showed up in the yard with 16 chicks!

She is an orpington and all the eggs and chicks will be Orpington too