My broody hatched...now what?

[hexabob]

I have 1 coop with 11 hens and 2 roosters. My Salmon Faverolle hen decided to go broody, so I figured I'd leave her alone and see what happens. She was sitting on 12-15 eggs, and this morning I came out to find 4 chicks with her. She is sitting of the rest of the eggs still. I put a small feeder with chick starter and small waterer by her. I don't really have a place to separate her with the chicks, and I don't want to try moving her while she is still on eggs. Should I take the chicks from her and put them in a brooder, or should I leave them alone? I'm not sure if the rest of my flock hasn't noticed the chicks yet, or just doesn't care about them.

 

[Judy]

You shouldn't have to do anything except change out the layer feed for chick starter, and provide oyster shell separately. It's fine to have a small feeder that the chicks can reach, but the mama will also feed them from her feeder, and of course they need water they can reach. If the water tray is wide enough for them to drown in, you might want to put some marbles in there til they are a little bigger. The rooster might help her offer food to the chicks and protect the chicks from any hens that might want to bother them. The mama will take care of everything else -- keeping them warm, protecting them, getting them together at night, maybe making a nest, etc. My broodies have always raised their chicks in with the rest of the flock.

 

[blmack]

I also just got two chicks from my broody hen today! I didn't really expect them to make it but I was wrong. My problem: My nests are up on a ledge. How will she get them down? I have ramps but is that safe? How long will she wait for the other 2 eggs to hatch before she needs to get off nest and feed the ones that are already here?