I've got my 2nd broody ever & I've got new questions

[Kelly FG]

My buff orp Sunny finally broke the brood after 7 weeks. She was thin & looking terrible, I thought she was going to kill herself...silly girl, we don't have any fertile eggs.
Well now my big, beautiful EE Penny has gone broody & she seems like she might be a good Momma.
What are your experiences w/ EE's hatching chicks?
Once the babies hatch can the stay with the flock?
It could start to get cold here at night in late september, will that be enough time for them to grow to survive a winter?
Do you think I should buy a few fertile eggs & try to let her hatch them?
Any other tips or advice would be great!

 

[Whirlwind]

I don't know about EE's but my momma hen would fight the others when they got to close. It was not pretty. I kept them seperated till babies were around 8 weeks old. Then one night she wanted in the big pen to roost with other girls so I let them in and it was ok. Big girls did a little bit of chasing them around but no blood was drawn. I would for sure keep them seperate while sitting and untill babies are a little bit older. If not other hens could pick on her or if they try to get in her nest you could get broken eggs.

About the cold if they are with momma they will be fine. She will keep them warm and they will be starting to get feathers by then.

Also if you wanted you could get some day old chicks and put them under her at night. I would wait untill she was sitting for a couple of weeks and so you know she is way into being a momma. I think I would try to get fertile eggs first if you decide to try it. You can post on here you are looking for some. Someone might be close to you or ask at your feed store they may know someone

You will really enjoy watching momma with babies if you let her have some.

 

[SpottedCrow]

If you could get some fertile eggs, then I'd slip them under her. You should also keep the chicks and broody away from the others for a few weeks...The mother will know when it's the right time to introduce the chicks.