New Chicks. Old Flock.

[mtngirl35]

I have a well established flock with 6 hens and a rooster. One of my hens just hatched out 8 chicks a few days ago. I have them in a separate brood area and all seems to be going good. The rest of my flock can see them thru the wire sides. Today 3 of the babies escaped thru a loose corner. I don't know how long they were out. I was gone for several hours. When I got home I checked them out good, returned them to their momma (who was a bit upset) and fixed the hole. The other chickens didn't seem to pay them any attention at all. My question is if the other flock members seem to accept them how soon can I let them out of the brooder. I have raised chicks in a brooder in the garage twice and introduced them to the flock when fully feathered but I have never had a hen hatch chicks before. Will momma hen protect them and take them into the coop at night? Or should I just leave them in the brooder until they are feathered out? My chicken are not free range due to neighbors that won't keep their dogs out of my yard. They haven't gotten any of my chickens but they have killed another neighbor's chickens. But my coop and run have ample room for about 20 chickens. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Judy]

I like to let my broodies raise their chicks mixed in with the flock from the day they hatch. It sounds like yours have started to do this already. Can you make a hole so the chicks can get back to their present home if you let mama and babies in with the flock? Or just let them together and observe, and see if the mama does what she is supposed to do, which is keep other hens from getting too close or too curious. The rooster will probably ignore them, or may even help raise them.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I separate my broodies and their babies for about a week in an area of the coop where the flock can see them. I then let them out with the flock and they do fine. I've tried to let hens raise babies without separation, and I end up with broodies stealing babies, fights over the favorite nestbox, chicks that can't figure out the ramp, etc.

Since yours have been in view of the flock, they should be fine letting them all out together.

 

[mtngirl35]

I let my little ones out but made sure they had a safe area with food, water, and shelter in case the older hens bothered them. Momma hen is smaller than the rest of my hens so she can get in there too. At first other hens don't pay them any mind unless they get near the food. After a few days they stopped defending the feeder and the little ones run around everywhere. The rooster has not mingled with them much yet. I had to move him to a separate area until I have more hens. Mine are starting to get a little bald. I'm hoping some of my new chicks are pullets. I love letting momma raise the chicks. Punkin has been an excellent mom and I hope she hatches many more chicks in the future. Thanks for the advice. This is much better than raising the chicks indoors and then trying to introduce them to the flock.