New mama at the bottom

[RaelynnMistral]

Hi y'all!

So, I have a brahma hen that was getting picked on by the other two and got her comb mostly bitten off, came inside the house for a few weeks to heal up, and went broody. We decided to give her some chicks, and that seems to be going well.

My question is, when should I put her and the chicks back with the other two in the coop? I was gonna modify it so they have about a third of it to themselves to start, but I'm in Michigan, and its still only about 30F consistently. What temp will allow her to keep them warm still? How long should I keep them separate from the other two that are generally butts to the mama? She's bitten me since getting the babes, so I'm sure she'll try to defend them. She's just such a sweetheart and at the bottom of the pecking order, so I worry about how effective she'll be there.

 

[DemeterAD9]

The chicks will know where to go (under mom) when they get cold. So long as there isn’t a blanket of snow on the ground I’d say you can put them out with the others (separated but in view) after this recent cold spell is over. Not sure where you are in MI but it looks like Friday will bring in some decent weather. Just be sure to keep them out of the wind and rain/snow and I think they’ll be fine.

As for the pecking order, it will have to be settled among the birds since you’ve had her separate for so long. But she will be more fierce now that she has the chicks. They’ll have to establish the order yet again once the chicks grow up too so the dynamics will change. The good thing is with more individuals it is less likely that one bird will be targeted and bullied, assuming they have plenty of room to get away from each other. It also helps to have some form of break in the line of sight, like some clutter that a bird can be behind where others can’t see it. A couple wooden pallets leaned against the fence would work.

I have a lone bantam EE who was my first broody. Even being pigeon sized she still chased off all the other birds. But I do allow my birds to free range and they have a large run when I decide to keep them locked up with two sides that I can separate if I so choose. I’ve taken to letting my broodies and chicks have one side to themselves during the day until the chicks are a bit bigger and look less like snacks. It really works wonders when you have a way to separate the flock as needed.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My question is, when should I put her and the chicks back with the other two in the coop?

You do not get guarantees with living animals and their behaviors. I can tell you what I would do and some of the things that I expect could happen, but I can't tell you what will happen.

How big is that coop, in feet? Do you have a run? If so, how big and is it available (no snow) for them? A photo could really help me understand it. My concern is that since you only had three it may be pretty small. And since you just mentioned "coop" it may be some type of combined unit. Is your coop elevated? It helps me to know what you are working with.

I'm in Michigan, and its still only about 30F consistently. What temp will allow her to keep them warm still?

A broody hen can keep them warm. That is not the issue. The risk is that a chick may get separated from the broody and may not be able to get back to get warm. What would be an inconvenience in warm weather could become fatal in your weather. That's part of why I want to see what you are working with.

How long should I keep them separate from the other two that are generally butts to the mama?

She has been separated from the others for a few weeks so it is like integrating a new chicken that happens to be broody with chicks. That generally involves the see-but-no-touch housing them next to each other for a while among other things like separate feeding and watering spots. One concern is that the chicks can get through the separation into the other hens' portion where the broody cannot protect them. The other two could easily kill the chicks. Make sure your separation is good.

It is possible that your broody hen will stand up to the others if they bother her or the chicks and fight her way back into the pecking order. Broody hens often have that kind of attitude. I've had hens at the bottom of the pecking order become terrors when they have chicks. But others on the forum have had disasters. You just don't know how it will go.

So, I have a brahma hen that was getting picked on by the other two and got her comb mostly bitten off,

Another reason I wonder abut how much room you have. Bullying behavior like this is sometimes made worse by lack or space.

So how would I approach this? It is tough as there are complicating factors. I'd house the hen and chicks next to the other two across wire for a couple of weeks. Give them plenty of time. Then, when you can be around to observe, let them mingle. See what happens. Try to give them as much room as possible both during the daytime and at night. Try to avoid locking them in a tight space together, including at night. Especially the first couple of mornings be out there at daybreak to see how they are managing if you do lock them together.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[RaelynnMistral]

You do not get guarantees with living animals and their behaviors. I can tell you what I would do and some of the things that I expect could happen, but I can't tell you what will happen.

How big is that coop, in feet? Do you have a run? If so, how big and is it available (no snow) for them? A photo could really help me understand it. My concern is that since you only had three it may be pretty small. And since you just mentioned "coop" it may be some type of combined unit. Is your coop elevated? It helps me to know what you are working with.


A broody hen can keep them warm. That is not the issue. The risk is that a chick may get separated from the broody and may not be able to get back to get warm. What would be an inconvenience in warm weather could become fatal in your weather. That's part of why I want to see what you are working with.


She has been separated from the others for a few weeks so it is like integrating a new chicken that happens to be broody with chicks. That generally involves the see-but-no-touch housing them next to each other for a while among other things like separate feeding and watering spots. One concern is that the chicks can get through the separation into the other hens' portion where the broody cannot protect them. The other two could easily kill the chicks. Make sure your separation is good.

It is possible that your broody hen will stand up to the others if they bother her or the chicks and fight her way back into the pecking order. Broody hens often have that kind of attitude. I've had hens at the bottom of the pecking order become terrors when they have chicks. But others on the forum have had disasters. You just don't know how it will go.


Another reason I wonder abut how much room you have. Bullying behavior like this is sometimes made worse by lack or space.

So how would I approach this? It is tough as there are complicating factors. I'd house the hen and chicks next to the other two across wire for a couple of weeks. Give them plenty of time. Then, when you can be around to observe, let them mingle. See what happens. Try to give them as much room as possible both during the daytime and at night. Try to avoid locking them in a tight space together, including at night. Especially the first couple of mornings be out there at daybreak to see how they are managing if you do lock them together.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Their coop is 5ftx5ftx5ft, lifted about 2 ft off the ground, and their run is 10ftx5ftx7ft, but it does get snowy when it snows. They have been inside the coop most of the last couple months because they dont like snow. But, this hen has always been at the bottom and gotten picked on a bit.

Obviously I am not asking for guarantees of behavior. Just general trends that others have noticed. Thank you for the estimates of timelines and temperature guidelines.