Mama Hen taking chicks into coop with the big girls...is it safe?

[yellowsnapdrago]

Our Ameraucana has been a great mama to 6 chicks which range in age from 7 to about 9 weeks old. They are in a smaller coop and run which is inside the bigger run. I have started letting them out into the big run and now mama is trying to take them into the big coop. Should I be concerned about the older girls attacking the chicks or will the mama still protect the babies?

 

[chicksnpoodles]

I have the same type of question though at a different stage of the chicks life.
Once the eggs hatch under the broody...do I really need to keep them and the mama separate from the rest of the flock for weeks?
I thought one of the reasons a mama hen was better than an incubator was because she protected them and helped raise them.

What is the best way to integrate them ASAP after hatching? or is there?

 

[sumi]

Over the past few months I've been letting my broody hens raise their chicks with the flock from day 1 and so far they've been great. The rest of the flock is curious, but no-one tried to harm the chicks and they grew up as part of the flock, which saves integration issues. In the past I did have flock members attack and kill new chicks, but it's not common.

Let your broody take her chicks to the coop with her, while they are still with her, so the flock can get used to the arrangement while they are still with their mom. She's going to wean them soon, they are old enough.

 

[chicksnpoodles]

So right now the broody is in her 'broody' area in our garage...what do you suggest...when they are couple days old, take them over to the chicken fenced area?

 

[yellowsnapdrago]

Thanks for the advice. I closed the little coop off yesterday morning and they have been with the big girls, they even slept on the roost with them last night. Loving raising baby chicks with a broody hen, so much easier.

 

[chicksnpoodles]

IT WORKED! She is protecting them with the main flock and the little ones and Mama are happy happy happy!

 

[yellowsnapdrago]

So good to hear that it worked out! I have another hen that has gone broody and I will be making a broody area in our coop for her, that way the babies will be around the big girls from the beginning.