New chick. Not sure how to raise.

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Well there's 2 out now. I picked her up to look (I guess that's OK; she didn't seem too perturbed). Little bitty things. She sure likes having the water and food within a few inches. She turned 180 degrees to face it.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

What happens once all of the eggs are hatched, or she gives up? Will she stay in the same place with the little darlings running about, or will she move about during the day, yet stay close? Last hatch the broody stayed put, but it was cold. Now it's pretty warm.

 

[Eckielady]

Mama chickens are the best. Just let her be. She knows what to do and when to move them. A hands off policy is probably best.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Mama chickens are the best. Just let her be. She knows what to do and when to move them. A hands off policy is probably best.

What can I expect? Where will she move them to? Do I need to set up a protected area for them? Currently she's on the floor tucked into a fairly secure spot next to the nests.

I'm handling this episode differently. Every time I go down there I handle the chicks. They don't seem to mind. Mama doesn't either.

 

[Eckielady]

I leave my broodies in the coop. I just let them do their job and stay out of it.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I leave my broodies in the coop. I just let them do their job and stay out of it.

Cool. I like that approach. I'll only intervene if I see something wrong.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

This is amazing! The broody already has her 3 chicks outside the coop. Scary! I walked into the coop and the broody was eating at the main feeders with her little ones by her. Then she took them outside. The other hens seem to be giving them wide berth although one hen lightly pecked one in the butt to get it out of the way. Wow this is so neat.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

This is funny. Broody mama has camped out with her 3 chicks beside one of the feeder spouts and won't let anybody near. She must have high ranking in the flock. Nobody messes with her.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

This is wonderful. Broody mama takes care of everything. Chicks walking around the coop like a boss - no problem. Others show respect and give them wide berth. Man, I was so misled by websites that say things like - "you must protect them, put them in a separate cage, tuck them in at night, floss and brush their teeth every day, make sure they use deodorant, etc". ha - j/k

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Man, these chickens are nuts. Everything was going great.

Then another broody hatched a chick. Today I walk into the coop and all of original mama's 3 chicks are hanging out with the new broody, and the 2 broodies are having a hissy. I separated them, but the 3 older chicks want to stay with the new broody, and the new broody wants them. The new chick is only about 2 days old and is kind of being ignored. I tried to give the new chick to the old broody, but no dice. So now the new broody is sheltering all 4 chicks, and the old broody seems content to go back to the nest.

Any tips/advice will be appreciated.