Post-Hatching Pasture Time?

[Chefads]

I just had a few baby chicks hatch from a brooding hen. Momma and babies are protected off inside the coop. When can i let them all out to pasture?

 

[sourland]

Pretty much as soon as they are mobile. Most hens increase their level of activity gradually in sequence with the growth of the chicks. Understand that small chicks are subject to predation. Congratulations on your hatch.

 

[Chefads]

okay, thanks.

+Do you just let them integrate with the rest of the chickens at that point and stop keeping them protected?

+It's my first hatch so i wasn't completely on top of it. I have one egg left that has still yet to hatch. Seems to still be viable but either a late bloomer or just laid at a different time. Would you keep them all together until the last hatch or just take down the protection and see what momma does?

Super fun.

 

[sourland]

Given enough space, most hens are able to protect their chicks from the flock unless the hens are very small or submissive. Once the chicks are 48 hours or so, I would remove the protection. Monitor initially to make sure that the flock leaves them alone.