Last year I "rescued" a flock of 20 chickens and it was my first experience with chickens. They were all at least 6 months old and some up to about 3 yrs old. Well 3 weeks ago one of the hens went broody and since last night we have 5 baby chicks!!!! They look great so far. The first egg pipped sometime yesterday, I found it when I got home from church and then this morning there were 3 chicks and I actually haven't seen them all yet but the neighbors checked on them while I was away today and said I have a total of 5 peeps. I'm just not sure what to do next. The hen went broody in a nesting box and I posted here and contimplated moving her to seperate her from the rest of the flock but actually ended up just blocking off her box. I put a metal grate in front of the box to keep her seperated and that's where she's at now. I set up a "nursery" in the coop and one outside as well but I don't know when to move her and the chicks. Right now they look fine and not restless or overcrowded in the nesting box but I'm sure that won't last. On the other hand I don't want to move her too soon and miss an egg hatching that otherwise would have. I didn't figure out how to seperate her for 3 or 4 days after she went broody so I know she has eggs under her that got there after she'd already been broody.
So I'm looking for advice about when to move her and the chicks since they can't stay in a nesting box forever! And any other info I would need to know about things I should or shouldn't be doing with these new little chicks. I got chick starter and put it in with her and them.
Thanks so much for any information you can give this novice!
So I'm looking for advice about when to move her and the chicks since they can't stay in a nesting box forever! And any other info I would need to know about things I should or shouldn't be doing with these new little chicks. I got chick starter and put it in with her and them.
Thanks so much for any information you can give this novice!