Naturally hatching chickens...what to do next?

[cluckinchicken]

My broody Mille Fleurs are in the process starting today of naturally hatching some chicks.
For setting, all they had was a recycle box on the floor filled w/straw. That was great!
But now I have 2 barred rock baby chicks and need to know what to do next.
I am tempted to move them to the back porch to my own brooder setup that I use in early spring after I incubate and hatch my own.
BUT I want them to learn from mommy.

So?

(I am not a beginning chicken person but this IS the first time for this natural-hatching stuff!!)

Mary

 

[kcfuerst]

Just sit back and watch. Mom knows what to do.

You might think about providing some starter food for the babes.

If you have other chickens around, you can keep them out of babies' food by providing a box with a small opening where they can be fed without the big ones going in. Keep water in the same place.

Mom will show them where food and water is. She will also protect them from other chickens.

 

[cluckinchicken]

I put food in there. I have an adult broody barred rock that is trying to get in the nest, too. I think the Milles were allowing her to set on eggs with them. Hen party?
Do I let her go in?
She might eat the food.
Do mother hens feed babies from the mouth like other bird species?
The chicks were pecking at my mouth like 'feed me!'
I'll have to make some room for water.
I am afraid the others may maraud the nest so I might end up putting a big dog crate in there for them. Would that be okay?


I am not a good builder!

 

[cluckinchicken]

Bump

Really, guys. I need as much advice as possible.
Please don't bury me!

There must be other experienced chicken people on here. You out there?

 

[Junkmanme]

I put my broody hen in a "separate area" (fenced chain-link and chicken wire) with a "dog-igloo" for a home. (I had also put some "day-old" chicks in there about the time of the hatch.)

Seemed to work good.

Also kept water and "chick start and grow" available at all times inside the "separate area". That's what Momma Hen ate too.

I covered a portion of the area with a blue plastic tarp to allow them to frolic without getting wet from rain.

dunno if this helps........

I took the Momma Hen OUT after 6 weeks. (a couple of days ago).
She can still see them......so STOMPS and FRETS !!! (I think that will "blow-over" in a couple more days. I felt it was time for her to get "back to business".)

The chicks are doing fine...GROWING like WEEDS !!!

Feed bill is WAY UP !!!!!!!!!

Junkmanme

 

[cluckinchicken]

Thanks guys!
We ended up putting my homemade (oh LAWD...read above post- I am not a builder!) brood box in the chicken house. It is approx. 3.4 x 3.5 ft with a lid. Made of 2 x 4's with metal hardware cloth fencing all around and on lid (did it w/staple gun).
I made this 2 yrs ago and it's stayed intact. It just needs to have its nails pounded back in every time they come loose (which is, uh, every time I move it!).
It's served me well, this thing. Maybe next time I'll make it way super better than this time. With screws!
Mommies are in their magic red plastic box (they HATED the bigger dog crate and moved the 2 babies to the opposite side of the chicken house this afternoon!) inside the brood box. Feeder and waterer are in there. I 'baptized' the chicks already so they are hep to the jive with the water. Same with the food.
They seem to be naturally more gregarious and curious than all the ones I've ever hatched on my own.
And faster and stronger! (Bionic?!)

Mommies are setting on the eggs now. If I go in there and they've moved the operation to another part of the brood box, I will (SIGH) incubate the rest of the eggs (consarn it!!) or else just let them croak. I don't have time for this stuff...that's why I do it in February!!
When I'm bored silly!!

Mary