Query on broody and chicks

If you do a search, you'll find lots of information about broody hens and their chicks.

A broody hen will leave the nest box every day to eat, drink and do her broody poo. She will need access to the run every day.

When the eggs start to hatch, put the food and drink right next to her, as she may not leave the nest once hatching starts.

Make sure you have your starter feed (NOT layer) right near mama hen. It won't hurt her to eat it, but it will hurt the chicks to eat layer feed. We use a flat dish, so the chicks can reach the feed easily.

After the chicks are a couple days old, mama hen will start leaving the nest box again and she will expect the babies to follow her. She will show them how to scratch for bugs and you will hear her chuckling for them when she finds a treat to eat. She will also do this with the starter feed when they first start eating. Once they go outside and start eating grass and bugs, they will need grit. Play sand is fine for this, as the regular grit is too large for them at this age.

Make sure the nest box is at ground level so the babies don't fall and get injured.

Also, mama hen will take babies out into high grass immediately. A fenced area where the chicks won't get wet or chilled by wet grass is best in my opinion.


edited for typo.