Putting hatched chicks with broody hen

[Justde]

Doing first time hatching chicks and thinking of putting them with a broody hen. Can we put the hen in the brooder pen in the shop, or would moving her away from the flock be too stressful for her? Also would the temperature difference factor in? The shop is currently set at 72 while incubating. What would be the ideal setup?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

If you try this have a backup plan. That’s the first thing. If you leave her where she is she is more likely to stay on the clutch so if it will be safe for the chicks to hatch there leave her. How long as she been broody? I think it works best if she has been sitting close to the three weeks it takes eggs to hatch. The tricky part (which I have not succeeded at to date) is slipping the live chicks under her at night and removing the eggs. There is a chance she will reject them so you will have to check first thing in the morning. If you hear loud panic peeps it’s time to remove the chicks and implement your backup plan. Hope that helps

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Oh my gosh I think I misread that. You’re going to put eggs under her not chicks! Right? Hahaha I need more coffee I guess.
I wouldn’t move her unless you have to. In which case move her first and make sure she stays broody before you give her eggs. I don’t know if the temperature shift matters. I have never incubated eggs. I’ve taken room temperature eggs and put them under broody hens and gotten chicks out of it just fine though

 

[Justde]

No, you didn't misread Eggs are in the incubator, lockdown on Sunday. We're considering moving the broody into the shop where the 4x6 brooder pen is. But we're concerned that moving her away from the flock might be stressful for her.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

No, you didn't misread Eggs are in the incubator, lockdown on Sunday. We're considering moving the broody into the shop where the 4x6 brooder pen is. But we're concerned that moving her away from the flock might be stressful for her.

Oh ok. I have had some luck moving a broody but i have had very hard times moving her and the chicks back so I would recommend leaving her where she is if at all possible. If she doesn’t accept the chicks you will have the brooder pen free for the chicks. The other issue with that is that if you move her and she doesn’t accept the chicks you have the added dilemma of breaking her and trying to reintegrate her. Sometimes a broody removed from the flock has a hard time getting her spot back in the pecking order. Even leaving her broody nest for a poop can cause issues so imagine moving her from the flock for days. Edited because I am not actually awake

 

[Auntiejessi3]

No, you didn't misread Eggs are in the incubator, lockdown on Sunday. We're considering moving the broody into the shop where the 4x6 brooder pen is. But we're concerned that moving her away from the flock might be stressful for her.

I'd just leave her be where she is and swap out whatever she is sitting on with the incubator eggs on Sunday. That will give her a couple days to hear them start chirping in the eggs during the hatching process.

 

[Poppy Putentake]

I think it is actually better for a hen with chicks to be away from the rest of the flock. The only problem would be getting the hen good and settled into the new place before the fake eggs "hatch".
Also, my prefered time to give a hen chicks is an hour or two before dawn.

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

I do NOT recommend moving the hen until after she has bonded with her new chicks. I rushed that last year and had a panicking broody stomping on her new chicks, it was bad.

The way I have success is take the earliest hatched chicks and put them with her at night (as soon as they are dry) and take away the fake eggs. Early In the morning I put any more hatched chicks with her. Then I give them about 4 hours to get acquainted and then move all of them to a new place. (This is very easy if you have a low cardboard tray or half a box that fits into her nest box. I put that in when she’s off the nest on day 19 then I can move the whole family at once.) Since she knows her chicks are under her she is unfazed by the move and as long as she is still laying down I can add any more late hatchers throughout the day.

I’ve added a picture of my hen in her box. This pasta box is really great for this. It has one low side so it’s not in her way and when I put the chicks in I turn the box around so the chicks can’t fall out.

I recommend leaving her and the chicks with the flock if it is a safe setup. I have a big flock so I move some broodies to mini coops just to limit the chaos in the main coop during chick season. I just change to shallow water dishes and make sure the obvious dangers are dealt with when the chicks are babies and things have gone very well and the chicks are part of the flock from Day 1.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I think it is actually better for a hen with chicks to be away from the rest of the flock. The only problem would be getting the hen good and settled into the new place before the fake eggs "hatch".
Also, my prefered time to give a hen chicks is an hour or two before dawn.

To each their own. I've never separated a broody from the flock, makes integration seamless, no need for reintegration.

 

[Eggrigg]

I do NOT recommend moving the hen until after she has bonded with her new chicks. I rushed that last year and had a panicking broody stomping on her new chicks, it was bad.

The way I have success is take the earliest hatched chicks and put them with her at night (as soon as they are dry) and take away the fake eggs. Early In the morning I put any more hatched chicks with her. Then I give them about 4 hours to get acquainted and then move all of them to a new place. (This is very easy if you have a low cardboard tray or half a box that fits into her nest box. I put that in when she’s off the nest on day 19 then I can move the whole family at once.) Since she knows her chicks are under her she is unfazed by the move and as long as she is still laying down I can add any more late hatchers throughout the day.

I’ve added a picture of my hen in her box. This pasta box is really great for this. It has one low side so it’s not in her way and when I put the chicks in I turn the box around so the chicks can’t fall out.

I recommend leaving her and the chicks with the flock if it is a safe setup. I have a big flock so I move some broodies to mini coops just to limit the chaos in the main coop during chick season. I just change to shallow water dishes and make sure the obvious dangers are dealt with when the chicks are babies and things have gone very well and the chicks are part of the flock from Day 1.

I am in the process of giving chicks to a hen (made my own post). How can you tell the momma has truly accepted them? How long do you recommend waiting until taking the chicks back? My broody hen is acting strange with the chicks and I’m nervous (she’s raised chicks before)