letting a hen raise chicks

[Abriana]

You don't have to candle them before putting them under the hen, if thats what you mean. You can give her the eggs that the hens are laying, but if you want more different kinds of chickens, you may want to purchase fertilized eggs. If you don't want to buy eggs, and don't mind that you aren't going to have the same breeds, then you can just give her the eggs laid that day. If you already have many different breeds, it's fun seeing what you get. For example, for my next hatch, I am going to breed my silver and gold laced wyandottes with my Columbian rock rooster, who is white. I'm excited to see how the finished product turns out! Good luck with your hatch!

 

[chickenmama109]

thank you

 

[chickenmama109]

thanks to every one

 

[Abriana]

No problem! And if you need any help with anything-such as how to integrate the chicks into the flock-I am hatching out my fourth batch of broody raised chicks, and so I have gone through this quite a few times, with only one chick loss (my only predator loss as well) and would be happy to answer any questions you might have!

 

[chickenmama109]

thank you and how do integrate the chicks

 

[chickens really]

Are they still with Momma?....Put her into the flock...She will protect them...If she has weaned them then she won't ...

 

[Abriana]

I am about to raise my fourth batch of chicks from a broody hen. Here is how to integrate chicks safely into an adult or pullet flock:
Place the chicks in a run inside the pen. This way the hens can see them, but cannot hurt them or peck them. You can make your own run out of hardware cloth, leave it open at one end, and you can use a bunny hutch with the legs taken off and slide them so that they are connected. Put the food and water inside so that the food won't get wet, and the chicks will not become intimidated by the hens who will want to scare them away from it.
The hens will become used to seeing the chicks around, but the hens are much bigger and stronger than the chicks, who are very fragile. It is not wise to let them out even supervised (I did this once and looked away for a second, and the hens started beating up on a chick. He had a hole in his side. Luckily, he survived) until they are pullets themselves. Even still, begin with very short, supervised outings. When things begin to get a little out of control, put them back and try the next day. After about a week and everything is going very well, allow the now pullets out during the day when you are home. This is for two reasons:
Hawks
Out of control pecking
I once let my bantam and her three babies (my first hatch ever) out while I ran to the store for half an hour. They were right between the age of chicks and pullets. When I came home, I found a pile of feathers, and bantam had led her remaining two to safety in the coop. It took a very long time for me to leave them out unsupervised again, even when I was home. I was always on the watch for hawks. Thankfully, this has been my only predator death of my whole almost two years of having chickens, others have been due to sickness, and one to injury.
If the hens happen to peck a chick, either by accident, or to establish pecking order, and accidentally draws blood, the hens will keep pecking until the chick is dead.
When the pullets seem run when a shadow passes, and can take care of themselves, let them out full time, even when you are not around. Leave the run open, or at least the hutch door open so that they can go in and hide if they need to. If you want to, you can hide a feeder in a clump of grass for them, otherwise, they will simply eat when the others have finished.
If you noticed out of control pecking (drawing blood, the hens/pullets will naturally peck to establish the pecking order, but they shouldn't pursue the matter once the chicks/pullets submit and run away) separate them again for a day or two.
The reason I do all this is because in the beginning when the hen is with them, she cannot do a good job protecting them because she is a bantam. If you have a regular sized hen, you could leave her out with the rest of the flock, as Chickens Really said above. After they are weaned, with no one to protect them though, they may get taken by a hawk or other creature while you are away.
Happy hatching!

 

[bobbi-j]

do i just let them go broody and then put the eggs they layed that day under them

Your hen will stop laying a day or two before she decides to set. At least that's what I've noticed with mine. This spring we were getting a dozen eggs a day, so we always had some available when we got a broody. Once I determined for sure a hen was broody, I'd take fresh eggs from that day and put under her.

thank you very much
can i take take the eggs they laying and put then on that and then put then under the hen

I'm not quite sure what you're asking. Are you wondering if you can pick an egg one day, put it under the broody, then get one the next day and put under her, etc.? If that's the question, the answer would be that it's better for you to collect the eggs you want her to hatch, and give them all to her at once. That way you don't end up with what's called a "staggered hatch". By giving them all to her at once, they should all hatch roughly within 24 hours of each other and she can take care of them all. With a staggered hatch, she may take the first babies off the nest before the others are ready, resulting in their deaths.

When I am collecting eggs to hatch, I just keep them in a basket or cartons on the kitchen counter. I use the freshest ones I have.

If you let the hen and chicks integrate when they're young, the babies will be fully integrated into the flock by the time she weans them at a month or two of age, and it will likely be with a lot less drama and fuss.

 

[Abriana]

Your hen will stop laying a day or two before she decides to set. At least that's what I've noticed with mine. This spring we were getting a dozen eggs a day, so we always had some available when we got a broody. Once I determined for sure a hen was broody, I'd take fresh eggs from that day and put under her.


I'm not quite sure what you're asking. Are you wondering if you can pick an egg one day, put it under the broody, then get one the next day and put under her, etc.? If that's the question, the answer would be that it's better for you to collect the eggs you want her to hatch, and give them all to her at once. That way you don't end up with what's called a "staggered hatch". By giving them all to her at once, they should all hatch roughly within 24 hours of each other and she can take care of them all. With a staggered hatch, she may take the first babies off the nest before the others are ready, resulting in their deaths.

When I am collecting eggs to hatch, I just keep them in a basket or cartons on the kitchen counter. I use the freshest ones I have.

If you let the hen and chicks integrate when they're young, the babies will be fully integrated into the flock by the time she weans them at a month or two of age, and it will likely be with a lot less drama and fuss.

TheWolf1039 was referring to the egg candler I was writing on how to make. TheWolf meant "Do I take the eggs that were laid by the hens, put them on the egg candler, and then put them under the broody?"

 

[bobbi-j]

TheWolf1039 was referring to the egg candler I was writing on how to make. TheWolf meant "Do I take the eggs that were laid by the hens, put them on the egg candler, and then put them under the broody?"

Thanks for clearing that up!