Not one, but two broody hens!!

[Farmgirl1878]

My ten-month old Blue Cochin, Blue, and Goldie, my year-old GLW, are both broody. They will eat from my hand and I shoo them out twice a day to drink and poop, but they are VERY intense! The growl and puff up, but don’t mind me pulling eggs from the other boxes or stroking their feathers. I can pick them up and move them without too much grumbling. Neither of them has had chicks before and this is my first flock, so I’m wondering what to expect.

The coop and run is like Fort Knox, but I’m going to add some chicken wire around the outside of the run to keep the babies in. About how long will the hens keep them inside the coop before bringing them out with the rest of the flock? (I don’t have space to keep them segregated.) Since the two started brooding on May 2nd, I’ve moved water and food into the coop for them and can have chick starter and water available for anyone who hatches out.

My BLRW cockerel is actually very good with his ladies and is friendly with me, but might he become overly protective when the chicks join the group? I do have a “juvie jail” coop I can move him into, but really don’t even want to think about that. I can separate the chicks into a brooder if I absolutely have to, but agin, I’d rather leave them with their mommas.

Any advice is welcome!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I would leave them with Momma. That is what we have done in the past. We also have a small area with a small coop and run for momma while she is brooding and she can keep the chicks in there. The other birds can see the chicks and the chicks can see the flock once the chicks hatch. After a few weeks the chicks get let out for longer and longer periods of time with me watching, until all seem to be okay with each other. Once the babies are large enough to climb on the roost with momma, everyone is on their own. Momma often remains protective for quite a while after everyone is all together.

 

[Sarasarasara222]

just to be clear, do you want to hatch the eggs or 'cure' the hens of thier broodiness

 

[Sarasarasara222]

I would leave them with Momma. That is what we have done in the past. We also have a small area with a small coop and run for momma while she is brooding and she can keep the chicks in there. The other birds can see the chicks and the chicks can see the flock once the chicks hatch. After a few weeks the chicks get let out for longer and longer periods of time with me watching, until all seem to be okay with each other. Once the babies are large enough to climb on the roost with momma, everyone is on their own. Momma often remains protective for quite a while after everyone is all together.

i let the little family and flock be together and all worked out fine

My ten-month old Blue Cochin, Blue, and Goldie, my year-old GLW, are both broody. They will eat from my hand and I shoo them out twice a day to drink and poop, but they are VERY intense! The growl and puff up, but don’t mind me pulling eggs from the other boxes or stroking their feathers. I can pick them up and move them without too much grumbling. Neither of them has had chicks before and this is my first flock, so I’m wondering what to expect.

The coop and run is like Fort Knox, but I’m going to add some chicken wire around the outside of the run to keep the babies in. About how long will the hens keep them inside the coop before bringing them out with the rest of the flock? (I don’t have space to keep them segregated.) Since the two started brooding on May 2nd, I’ve moved water and food into the coop for them and can have chick starter and water available for anyone who hatches out.

My BLRW cockerel is actually very good with his ladies and is friendly with me, but might he become overly protective when the chicks join the group? I do have a “juvie jail” coop I can move him into, but really don’t even want to think about that. I can separate the chicks into a brooder if I absolutely have to, but agin, I’d rather leave them with their mommas.

Any advice is welcome!

so it is up to you to decide how you want to go about it

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Oh I’m letting the girls sit on the eggs! I want chicks! So much so, that I sold my two RIRs yesterday. My two favorite lap sitters are gone to a new farm.

So far, the other girls are not pestering Blue and Goldie too much. I saw Blue come off the nest yesterday to eat, drink, and dustbathe. Goldie, I just picked up and set her outside so she could run around a little and dustbathe. Goldie’s the o e who might have a bit of a problem as she doesn’t seem to want to eat. I can tempt her with some bugs or crack, but she sort of “zones out” and stops eating. Tho when I leave some chicken chow near her, she apparently eats it... I’m keeping a close eye on both. Fingers crossed they both do well and that we have chicks on my birthday!