How soon would you let a broody hen with chicks into flock?

[TheChickinator]

So we had a hen go broody for the first time, and we moved her from the nest box into a rabbit pen with her eggs. We set the rabbit cage on the floor of our chicken coop so that she was still around the other chickens, and gave her her own food and water. Her chicks hatched out last night, and we're wondering how soon we can open the door to the rabbit pen to let her and her chicks out into the rest of the flock? We have a run that the chickens stay in till about 2 pm everyday, and then the remainder of the day the chickens free range. I'm a little apprehensive about letting the chicks free range due to predators, but we don't have anywhere else that the hen can grow out the chicks at.

How soon would you guys recommend leaving the rabbit hutch door open for them to come and go?

Thanks!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Now is a good time. I'd not let them free range but would definitely let them be with the flock in run and coop. She may retain the rabbit hutch with chicks for nights or may use a nest box. Just make sure the chicks can follow her wherever she goes.

 

[Molpet]

I had a hen hatch 11 on tuesday in a box in the coop, thursday she took them out into the main coop, this morning she took them outside briefly. She is back in the coop now tearing up the deep litter LOL.. My adult birds are used to chicks now..
the first time I had new chicks some were mean to them, but they figured it out.

 

[song of joy]

I usually let my broody hens integrate their chicks into the flock when the chicks are about 5 days old. By that time, the chicks are stronger and faster than when they first hatch out, and have developed a strong bond with the mamma hen.

 

[Folly's place]

I wait until the chicks are five to seven days old to. They are bigger, stronger, and more focused on mama, so much more likely to do well. If the broody is a dominant hen, there will be fewer issues. If she's at the lower end of the pecking order, plan on more supervision, and maybe more time. Mary

 

[EggMeOn255]

I too am a first timer. My hen hatched four chicks a week ago. I had put her in a dog crate inside the chicken run while she was broody and then fenced around the run and across half for her and chicks after they hatched. I don't know how the other hens and rooster will treat the newcomers and I don't think I could deal with a dead chick :-( Anyway, the temps are going down to the mid-forties tonight. Will mama be warm enough by herself in the dog crate (the chicks are nestled up under her of course) or should I put her in the coop with all the others? Sorry, I don't know what is cold to a chicken, lol

 

[Molpet]

mama will keep them warm.. even in 0f weather
eta.. and she will be fine

 

[azygous]

40s temps are balmy to a chicken, and a broody is a virtual hot water bottle for her tiny chicks. They will be toasty warm.

My broody gets her own coop section and special run for her and her chicks until they're two weeks old. Then I allow the broody access to the remainder of the run with the rest of the flock.

My broody happens to be a fierce guardian and she is instantly smacking down any chicken that so much as thinks about looking at her chicks. Sometimes she is so zealous about defending her babies, they end up getting trampled in the ensuing scuffles. I take that as a cue to escort the little family back to their run for a cool-down and let the stress dissipate.

The chicks are almost six weeks old, and they've been mingling with the flock for a month. The broody no longer feels the need to fly into a fury when a chick gets itself into trouble with another flock member. They are now old enough to take care of themselves. She should be turning them loose any day now.

 

[centrarchid]

Stay on top of keeping the chicks with a good clean water supply. I also set up a creep feeder where a higher quality chick starter is easy for chicks to get to without adults taking it all.

Stay on top of health issues. This time of year the chick eating hawks are more prevalent in more southerly areas as migrants move through so I keep broods in tight where the hen can go any where chicks out in the open and so she can see all threats. Other adults, especially the rooster, help with hawk issues on chicks.

 

[lazy gardener]

Broody hormones (translation: "You come near my babies, and I'm gonna tear you to bite size pieces and feed you to them!") are at their highest during the first 2 weeks after hatch. So, unless there are odd circumstances, I'd try to get them integrated during that 2 week window. (I had a broody who was a wuss, bottom of the pecking order, so I had to tractor her and her babies till the babies were weaned at 4 - 6 weeks old.)

Of course, you will need to monitor to be sure the babies can get to where Mama goes. Those flight feathers grow in very fast, so they will quickly be able to navigate a ramp. But, they may have "stupid" moments, where they get stuck on the wrong side of a gate or fence, or can't figure out a ramp.