New chicks from incubator.

[n8snow]

Hi am new to this forum. I have two Rhode Island reds, one rooster and one hen. We just hatched eight of their eggs in an incubator. My question is, will they recognize them as there own if I put the chicks out early or should I keep the chicks away from them for a few weeks?

 

[sumi]

They won't accept the chicks as their own unless the hen hatched them herself. Raise them and keep them separate from the hen and roo until they are more or less fully grown before introducing them. If you can keep them separate, but within sight of each other until you introduce them it will help make the integration easier when the time comes. Then the chicks won't be complete "strangers" then and the older pair will accept them more readily. There will still be some pecking and bullying as they reorganise their pecking order though.

 

[n8snow]

Thank you!