Moving chicks with hen back to coop after hatching

[christinethemac]

I have a bantam cochin frizzle that went broody. She's sitting on 4 viable eggs that should hatch in about 5 days! I moved her inside the house into a cage and made her a nest with a kitty litter bin because it's been in the upper 20's/30's at night. She has been sitting on them nonstop except when I take her outside to dust bathe for a few minutes and mingle with the other hens. I then put her back in the cage and she gets right back on the eggs. My question is if i let her hatch them in the house, can i move her and the chicks back outside to the coop with the others after a few days? The other hens are all very mild temperament. Or does mom and babies need to stay separated from others?

 

[ChickenMannR]

The mother can stay with the chicks, but you should keep momma and chicks separate from the rest of your flock. I would get a heat lamp for when you take the mother away to mingle. Good luck, and hope things go well!

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Even if your hens are mild tempered, I would not put her and the chicks in with the rest of the flock. There is not any guarantee they would not peck. Chicken thought: "Wow! There are tiny cheeping things running around MY coop! They seem to be following that hen that has gone nuts! I'm going to go check this out." the chickens might get annoyed with these little things, and might peck. I would wait until around maybe eight to ten weeks, then either, separate the hen, or she will have left them. They might get picked on a little, but they will learn to stay out of the way!

 

[Sublight]

My opinion is a little different. I wait about 2-3 weeks, then introduce the little ones and then let nature take its course. Give the little ones something to hide behind, and let the chickens be chickens. They will sort it out.
There is NOTHING wrong with a little aggression, its part of nature. Pecking orders being worked out, etc.
Just don't let them peck until the kill the little guys. Put stuff on the edge of the coop for them to hide in, like cinder blocks with the holes parallel to the ground so they can run into it and hide, or mabe old pallets. Something they can use for cover, and let them work it out.
Big chickens killing little chickens is the exception, not the rule.

 

[christinethemac]

Even if your hens are mild tempered, I would not put her and the chicks in with the rest of the flock. There is not any guarantee they would not peck. Chicken thought: "Wow! There are tiny cheeping things running around MY coop! They seem to be following that hen that has gone nuts! I'm going to go check this out." the chickens might get annoyed with these little things, and might peck. I would wait until around maybe eight to ten weeks, then either, separate the hen, or she will have left them. They might get picked on a little, but they will learn to stay out of the way!

My opinion is a little different. I wait about 2-3 weeks, then introduce the little ones and then let nature take its course. Give the little ones something to hide behind, and let the chickens be chickens. They will sort it out.
There is NOTHING wrong with a little aggression, its part of nature. Pecking orders being worked out, etc.
Just don't let them peck until the kill the little guys. Put stuff on the edge of the coop for them to hide in, like cinder blocks with the holes parallel to the ground so they can run into it and hide, or mabe old pallets. Something they can use for cover, and let them work it out.
Big chickens killing little chickens is the exception, not the rule.

Thanks for your response. I'm kind of on the fence. I really don't want chickens in the house for 8 weeks and to then have to reintegrate the hen back into the flock. I was actually thinking wait a few days and put her in with them. Maybe a few weeks is a better idea though.

 

[christinethemac]

One more question, i know this is strange, but she won't get off eggs when she's in the cage in the house sitting on them. I've been putting her outside for about 15 minutes a day to eat/drink/poop/bathe. When we get closer to hatching, should I stop doing this so she and the eggs won't be disturbed?

 

[Sublight]

Thanks for your response. I'm kind of on the fence. I really don't want chickens in the house for 8 weeks and to then have to reintegrate the hen back into the flock. I was actually thinking wait a few days and put her in with them. Maybe a few weeks is a better idea though.

The hen will protect them. I have a broody hen with 4 chicks that are 3 weeks old, and another hen came up to them today, and she opened a industrial can of whoop @$$ on that other hen. That momma is like most mommas.... Dont mess with the babies.

..... However, if you see the other hens being mean, then take steps to protect the baby. A little harassment is normal. A lot is not.

One more question, i know this is strange, but she won't get off eggs when she's in the cage in the house sitting on them. I've been putting her outside for about 15 minutes a day to eat/drink/poop/bathe. When we get closer to hatching, should I stop doing this so she and the eggs won't be disturbed?

This is normal (for her not to get up). Dont take her off her eggs at all. She wont eat much while sitting eggs, but just make sure she has feed/water close to her. She will be ok.
If those eggs cool off too much they may die. I think if the temp messes up too much then you can have birth defects. Just let mother nature do her thing.