Just registered. Hello!

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Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.
I would build a brooder in the coop made out of hardware cloth and use a brooder plate and raise the chicks in the coop with your lone Orpington. And I would pull the cockerels out of the batch as soon as they make themselves known and put them in their own pen to prevent them from harassing the pullets and the lone hen.
 
Welcome to the coop! I use the Forums and Articles tabs at the top of the page to do research. You can get lost for hours. It's nice to know you are minutes away from getting help with questions and emergencies! I always check in the "What's New" section as well at the top of this page. This way I can read how I may have a similar question or help give some advice.
 
CloneFly said:
Welcome to the BYC! It's great to have you join! If you incubate the eggs, I would say your best (and safest) bet would be to make a brooder and raise the chicks yourself. Has your hen hatched/raised chicks before?
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Hello,

But if I incubate them, will she pay attention to the chicks or leave them alone? I was thinking I could try to get her to brood, then slip the eggs under her and maybe she wouldn't mess with the hatchlings.

I just don't want her to start pecking at them. I don't know how she will react because I have never had to do this.

Or keep them in a brooder until they get older? Like how hold? I am trying to figure out best scenarios.

She has never raised or hatched chicks as far as I know. We got her from a friend and I can ask. Does that make a difference?
 
Sussex19 said:
Welcome to BYC!
Unless she is actually broody, (sitting all day in a nest, and looking like a pancake if you take her off the nest) she won't take care of them, and may even hurt or kill them.
If she is broody, then if you sneak them under her at night, there is a very good chance she will take them as her own, and mother them.

Otherwise, you need a brooder, and raise them yourself.
Good luck whatever happens!
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Yes, this is what I was wondering. And how long will they have to be in a brooder before I can let them wander the yard and coop?
 
janiedoe said:
Welcome to BYC. As others have said, if she isn't broody, she won't care for them.
Have you considered what you're going to do with any roosters that hatch?
Have you considered buying pullets chicks? You'll still need a brooder, but i believe the investment is often more cost effective, since you won't be raising and dealing with male chicks.
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Yeah, I wasn't sure with the roosters. I have a friend who I can donate them who may cook them for food. I would consider it as wel, but will have to learn about it a bit more on how to prep them. I was thinking of keeping one rooster to protect them as I had before he died. I just had to have a collar for him because we're not supposed to have roosters.

I was also looking into the Serama breed which is smaller and only about 1/3 as loud as the average rooster. A person was selling them for $20. I have to look into this breed.
 

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