New Chicks

[matt1513]

My hens just hatched 12 chicks on Wednesday. Can I just let the hens take care of them or do I need to take the chicks out and give them their own place?

 

[matt1513]

Also we are in central Virginia.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I would leave them with the hens until or unless you see reason not to - which would be if conditions get to the point where the life/safety of anyone involved is in question. While I have not hatched chicks with our current flock, in my previous years of chicken keeping we had multiple broodies hatch out chicks and not once did I encounter a situation that required intervention.

 

[matt1513]

I just found one of the chicks got squished and one of them looks like it does not have any eyes. the hens seem to be showing the chicks how to eat and drink. But the hens are eating the chick starter feed.