Need advice on feeding broody hen's chick

[MaineChick]

Ok, so I'm totally unprepared, didn't think ahead at all. My broody is setting on several eggs, one chick is out this morning and another halfway. So NOW it occurs to me to wonder how to provide the little ones with grower mash while preventing mom and the other two hens and the roo from eating it all up. How can I do this?

The new family is in one of the two nestboxes in the coop. I use plastic stacking boxes, like the ones you'd use in the kitchen for potatoes or onions. I'm worried that the lip is too big for the chicks to get out or back in, so I've piled hay up in front of it.

Do I have to move them into a brooder area to deal with these questions?

And, what else have I not thought of yet?

It sure was nice to go out this morning and realize that from under Little Chicken was coming that adorable little peeping noise! She was so sweet about letting me lift her up a bit for a look, too - I think she's kinda proud.

 

[Ridgerunner]

You are likely to get a lot of dire warnings of impending disaster unless you do this or that. Might I suggest you read this thread. I think it might help.

Raise with flock? thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=215937&p=1

One way to make sure the adults do not eat the starter is to provide a space that the chicks can get to that the adults cannot. There are many different ways to do this, depending on your actual set-up and what you have handy. You can build on open topped box out of slats with openings the chicks can get through but that the big chickens cannot. 2-1/2" seems to be a good size for the openings but make sure it is big enough the hens cannot get their heads in to the food. Just set the crate over the food. It is also a good way to provide water at a level the chicks can get to without the hens contaminating it.

I think space in your coop and run is the big issue on how you go about it. If things are squeezed too tight, you may need to brood them yourself, but if Mama has enough room to work you can manage for her to raise them with the flock for you. Or you can isolate Mama and the chicks from the flock into their own space if it is too tight in your main coop and run. Since Mama is not laying eggs, she can eat the starter and do well.

Some people just feed starter to all the chickens and offer oyster shell on the side to prevent the chicks from eating the layer.

 

[PunkinPeep]

I am definitely not going to give you any dire warnings of impending disaster.

To me, the simplest thing is to feed everyone the same thing - but that's me. I usually look for the simplest route possible. So i free range my flock, supplement with game bird grower for everyone, and offer extra calcium to the layers if needed. Feeding everyone different foods is too complicated for me.

With such a small flock, you will likely be able to let your mama just raise her babies right there with the flock.

I am new at this, but i am finding it beneficial to give the mamas 2 or 3 days of extra privacy in the very beginning before letting them decide how they want to introduce/expose the babies to life with the flock. The first couple of days consist mostly of her sitting with them under her anyway, so it's not too too much different than when she was setting on the eggs. The most important adjustment i had to make was to make sure a waterer was available at the chicks' height, inside and outside.

Congratulations on your new hatch! I find the whole thing absolutely amazing and fascinating. I'm sure you will too!

Trust your gut and don't let anyone complicate it too much for you.

 

[MaineChick]

Thanks so much, RidgeRunner! I wanted to keep them with the flock if possible. I read some dire warnings about not separating them when Little Chicken went broody, and considered it, but these are a pretty good group of chickens and I decided that Mother Nature probably knew a lot better than I did, especially since I am new to the chicken thing. It's all been fine, Little Chicken knows just what to do, and on the one day it's been so cold during the day that the eggs might not have fared well while LC took her daily constitutional, I was amazed to see the other Sussex taking over setting duties. LC took shameless advantage and stayed out for nearly an hour rather than her usual 15 minutes. How do they KNOW this stuff?? A lot more chicken communication goes on than we are aware of, I believe.

I had thought of some sort of "creep feeder" system, and think I will pursue that idea on your recommendation. My coop is long and narrow with nest boxes at one end and roosts at the other, but perhaps I can change the nest box positioning enough to put a box over a baby chicken area.

PunkinPeep, thanks. I am trying to figure out something better than the hay solution for letting chicks in/out of the box for water and food. I may cut the front of the box down to floor level, although it's nice to be able to keep the hay in the nest box and the shavings on the coop floor.

I have day olds coming in the mail in a little over two weeks - suggestions, anyone, for when/how to integrate them into the flock? Must I keep them separate until they are feathered out, or is there a way to put them together earlier? (No one is vaccinated against anything).

Thanks! I am reassured by your responses.

 

[Koolduck]

Im glad i didnt read all the dire stuff when I kept my broody in the coop!

She did fine! I had her in a card board box and after the chicks hatched I had her in that box cut in half in a metal dog crate. They hatched on March 9th and still spend the night in their designated corner of the coop. I surrounded their area with a "small pet" run from Petsmart I bought for the rabbit...it is just garden fencing, and covered it with chicken wire to prevent the fat Aunties from eating the starter. There is a 2-3 inch gap for the babies to squeeze through the fence and crate. Sometimes the Aunties storm the gates to get the food but for the most part it works. The inside of the coop is 10x10 with 7 adults and 6 chicks. The run is a small horse paddock say 60x40. I have one hen(flock leader) who can be grumpy with the kids but for the most part everyone is OK with the them. It is hysterical to watch Dumplin the roo(named that just incase!) go up to the male chicks and almost show the sons the ropes! That probably will not last too much longer! You will do fine and Mom and chicks will do fine! I have noticed that the purchases chicks in the brooder are far more "developmentally delayed" than the natural raised ones. Cant substitute for a Mommy! Have fun and take pictures as you will want them later!

 

[seminolewind]

I give my mamma and chicks all chick feed till mamma starts laying eggs again because of the higher protein. And I put out oyster shell just in case.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
Some will probably tell you that you can't coop them together until the babies are nearly adult size, but i am coming to disagree with that.

With my last group of "newcomers," i started by letting the babies in the run while the flock free ranged. I started doing that on the very first sunny day when i was satisfied that the babies would be warm enough outside for a while.

As soon as they feathered in, the babies started running with the big boys - i think that might've happened by accident, but it worked anyway.

I kept them in a cage in the big coop until they outgrew it.

Now everyone except my newest broody mama and her chicks, runs together and sleeps together.

There's a pallet leaned against a wall in the coop, under which all the babies and broody mamas (i have three broody mamas right now) sleep at night. During the day, they all free range together all day. I'll let the newest broody mama decide if she wants to take the babies for a jaunt tomorrow. For now, she and her chicks are in the run where they can get sunlight, etc., but they can also have peace and quiet.

My only true theory on integrating chickens of different ages - because i've done it several different ways - is to trust your gut and watch your chickens. Every flock is different. Mine are pretty tolerant. And i just see what works in every situation.

But it seems to me that if you can get the babies running with the big girls sooner than later, they will learn how to forage faster, and they will be healthier because they are more active and have access to the outdoors, which is what is natural for them.

Hope i haven't rambled on too much. My brain's not quite awake yet.