Letting hens raise chicks?

[kittyuskattyus]

Is it possible to let mother hen do all the work? Can she raise them in the coop on her own? Surely it must be possible, I know chickens are fairly domesticated but they must still have the instinct?

 

[appps]

Uh yeah chickens still know how to have and raise babies.

Lots of threads on here. Search broody and you should find what you are after. There is one thread in particular that is all about using broody hens to hatch eggs.

 

[appps]

Oh and should add, some breeds are better at it than others. For example a lot of people keep some silkies to hatch eggs from breeds that are less prone to going broody.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I have a silkie cross hen that we just call momma , cause that his her one and only desire. I have even loaned her to a friend to raise orphans. She raised Wyandotte 's, barnevelder 's and sussex and one clutch of her own eggs. A good broody is priceless.

 

[annanimal]

It is possible to let her raise them on her own and it is a very good idea and it is an even better idea to let her raise them in the coop because that way when they get older you wont have to introduce them to the flock.
She will protect the babies from the other chickens but i dont think they will be a problem especially if you let her be broody in the coop becaue the broody is always respected, some people like to take her out of the coop to let her go broody and have them seperate so that the mom can get used to them and then add them to the flock but i dont think that is necesarry, only if she is a new mom.
Some people even seperate the broody and the chicks until she leaves them and then add them in with the rest of the flock but then they might fight or something and also the broody 's protective instinct is strongest the younger the chicks are.
Sorry that i have rambled on for so long!

Good luck!

 

[Brandi Leigh]

Oh and should add, some breeds are better at it than others. For example a lot of people keep some silkies to hatch eggs from breeds that are less prone to going broody.