Newly abandoned 5 week old chicks

[DeesChicks]

I had a broody mama hatch out 7 eggs, and the chicks are now 5 weeks old. I moved her over to a broody coop we made so she could hatch them out safely, with their own little yard with a door that opened out to the main yard. During the day, we opened the yard doors to the main coop and the broody coop and mama and babies have all been associating with the entire flock in the main yard. At night, everyone went back to their own coops. Sunday morning, there was an egg in the broody coop and mama high tailed it out of there like her tail was on fire! That marked the day she decided that she was done with the whole mothering business. That night, she went back into the main coop, which took some adjusting (had to squabble her way back in) and the chicks were all outside cheeping loudly for her to come back. Just before dark, they all went back into their coop and went to sleep. I am hoping at some point, they all make their way into the main coop too, and become part of the flock. I was hoping the mama would introduce them and integrate them in, but that didn't seem to happen. Although everyone is fine with each other out in the yard (which took the mama defending them at first). Do I intervene and throw them in the main coop? Or close their run door when they are out to "force" them to seek shelter in the main coop? Or see if they integrate themselves? I have a 2nd broody mama on eggs right now and would really like to have access to the broody coop before the July 13th hatch. Although if this is going to be a problem, it may be better for her to hatch them out in the main coop where she is currently sitting on the eggs.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Your broody has lost some of her pecking order status, now she has to fight to get back to her place on the roost. Sound like your chicks will need to integrate themselves, which is better done when they're about the same size as your other chickens. *I* would let the chicks continue to have access to the brooded coop and have the broody do her business in the main coop. That way, the broody does all of the work of integration without the confusion of two coops and the chicks are free to take some time to grow and work out their own place in the pecking order.
Good luck!