Opinions on how to integrate new chicks raised with a broody

[aatx]

I have two sets of chicks raised with broodies. One set is 5 weeks old, and one is 5 1/2 weeks old. Right now they are with their mothers in a separate coop with a small 8' x 8' run that shares one side with the main chicken pen. I also let them free outside the run in the afternoons if I have some time to sit and watch them.

(Photo below - They are in the white coop with the shorter fence in the photo below. The area with the hoop shade their run adjoins is the main run, and the bit of green you can see to the left is the main coop.)



There are a few squabbles between the mothers - after all, one has to be alpha in every setup, but nothing bad. Early on I had one chick get pecked that drew a bit of blood, but nothing since. I know the time will come shortly when the mothers start trying to distance themselves from the chicks or even reject them all together.

Important side note - I have more chicks due to hatch at the end of this week with another broody. I'll keep them inside the first 2 weeks, but then I'll be looking to move them out into this coop - so in about 3 weeks from now.

So, here's my quandary: Do I let nature take it's course and wait until the mothers start rejecting the babies and then move the mothers over into the main coop or do I need to move them all together so that the mothers might protect the babies a bit when they enter the new pen? They're pretty used to everyone now since they've shared a fence for a few weeks, but I know it will be a bit different when they actually are all in the same pen.

If I move the mothers separately, I'll let the current chicks stay in the separate coop and get a bit bigger. The mothers do have to be out, though, before I move the new mother and her chicks out in about 3 weeks. I suppose I'll just have to see how it goes if I were to leave the older chicks in with the new mother and babies. If there is too much conflict, they can be moved to the big pen - they should be about 8 weeks old at the time, and it will be 9 of them at once.

So, what would you do? Move mothers separately back into main coop, or move them as a unit?

 

[silkiecuddles]

I had a silkie broody hatch a few chicks several weeks ago. I kept her and them confined, and yesterday I moved them all to my silkie coop. Everyone's getting along well. I don't let her out yet because the chicks are still young. If I were you, I'd move the mamas. When you put the new ones in with the chicks, unless they get injured, they should be fine. Keep an eye on all the mamas, and make sure no one is getting picked on to the point of being bloody. Hope this helps!

 

[Den in Penn]

I have both let broodies hatch in the coop with the flock and separate. Keeping the broodies separate does have a few advantages while they are sitting on the eggs. Once they hatch, keeping them separate from the flock for more then a day offers no real advantage. While they are youngest is when the broodies protective instinct is strongest. With a broody sponsoring them they should have no problem other then the occasional peck to tell the chick to move on. Truth is once a flock is used to chicks you see chicks and adults get along well, after all they have had chicks in with the flocks since there were chickens. Since in your set up they have seen each other for a while I would put moms and chicks in all at the same time. Make sure you have space on the floor of the coop for them to nest. When the next one hatches I would think about connecting the runs so they can mingle from day one.

 

[aart]

I have both let broodies hatch in the coop with the flock and separate. Keeping the broodies separate does have a few advantages while they are sitting on the eggs. Once they hatch, keeping them separate from the flock for more then a day offers no real advantage. While they are youngest is when the broodies protective instinct is strongest. With a broody sponsoring them they should have no problem other then the occasional peck to tell the chick to move on. Truth is once a flock is used to chicks you see chicks and adults get along well, after all they have had chicks in with the flocks since there were chickens. Since in your set up they have seen each other for a while I would put moms and chicks in all at the same time. Make sure you have space on the floor of the coop for them to nest. When the next one hatches I would think about connecting the runs so they can mingle from day one.

Ditto Dat^^^

 

[aatx]

Thanks, for all the advice.

Sorry, won't connect the runs - I've worked too hard on the main one to compromise it - and I'm not interested in moving them outside during the first two weeks. Just my way of raising chickens. (Meaning as pets, who come in and wear diapers, etc.) There are many different styles of raising chickens on this board and I just happen to be one of "those".

I guess I'll decide on something this weekend and then post back with an update eventually.