Question about keeping newly hatched chicks with flock.

[Shorty22366]

When my hens hatch in the coop, I do not lock the other chickens out of the coop. I allow the hens that are laying to continue to lay in the nests. I don’t want them to learn to lay somewhere that is not the coop. It’s never been a problem. The other chickens do not interfere with my broody hatching. That said, I’m not sure how you are managing the flock and the new coop. This may be part of your thinking. I could see letting the broody hens have the old coop for a while and the others the new coop. Or maybe something else. I don’t know how the coops are set up or what nests you have.

I try to interfere with my broody hens as little as possible when they are hatching. I cause a lot less harm that way. There is no reason to try to get the Mamas out daily to stretch their legs. They want to be with their babies. I’ve had a broody hen bring her chicks off the nest within 24 hours of the first one hatching, I’ve had them wait more than 3 full days. They don’t abandon their babies but stay with them. They seem to know when it is time to bring them off the nest.

I don’t know how your hatch is set up. Are all three broody hens sharing the same nest or does each have her own nest? Were all the eggs started at the same time or is it a staggered hatch with different eggs due different days? All that could make a difference in how I managed them. In some cases I probably would interfere a lot more than normal. It’s hard to say what I’d do without knowing a lot more about the specific situation. There are always different ways to do things.

The main reason I’m posting is to say to not try to get the hens away from the babies unless you have a specific reason. Sometimes broody hens fight over the eggs when they start to hatch or fight over who is going to take care of the chicks. That doesn’t always happen, many people are very pleased with how multiple broodies can work together to hatch and raise chicks. I once had broody hens fight over eggs that were starting to hatch so I know it doesn’t always work out. They destroyed some of the eggs. Since yours appear to be working together so far you will probably be OK there, but something like that is about the only reason I’d try to separate some of the hens from the chicks. I’d always leave one hen with the chicks. If I ever separated a broody I would not try to put them back together. I’d worry about them fighting over the chicks and maybe harming the chicks when you put them back together.

It sounds like your hatch is off to a good start. Good luck with the rest of it.

All my hens have separate boxes but right next to each other. When my broody comes out for a break my silkie rooster goes in and sits on her eggs. I have seen him take worms into them. I think they will all be fine together. I will be watching them very close.

 

[Coop de Grass]

All my hens have separate boxes but right next to each other. When my broody comes out for a break my silkie rooster goes in and sits on her eggs. I have seen him take worms into them. I think they will all be fine together. I will be watching them very close.

I really miss my roos... My immediate neighbors loved them, but one didn't want any chickens across the street... he got rid of the roos, but now chickens are legal in South Brunswick NJ! Got our variance and then the township changed the ordinance! Your silkie roo sounds fantastic!

 

[Pardeechick]

Looking for words of wisdom to help with integration and baby chicks. A year ago, I decided it was time to start a small flock. We had bought a small farm that had an existing coop on it, and decided the time had come to fill it. End result, I ended up with 2 roos, 2 hens, but since they were raised together, there has never been much conflict between the roos. My birds all free-range and have 10 acres to roam. Although they tend to stay fairly close to the house and coop. The end of this February I got 6 new chicks to hopefully balance out my small flock with some much needed hens. Turns out 2 of the new chicks are roos, so I know I have to re-home them, 4 roos and 6 hens are just not going to work. I currently have the younger birds in a smaller coop, and was planning to integrate the girls this month. The complication is one of my older hens went broody on me, and due to some personal issues, I was not able or inclined to try to break her. She was laying on 2 eggs, but only one hatched. I now have a 5 day old chick. I left Mama and chick in the main coop, and so far, all seems well. But now I think I have to delay introducing my 16 week old pullets until this chick gets older. My older birds have been around the 16 week olds, just never had full access to them, as I only let the young birds out to range when the older birds have gone into their run for the evening. Thoughts anyone? How long should I wait to try to integrate the 16wk old pullets?

Also looking for suggestions on how to safely re-home a 16 week old EE rooster and a black Ameruacana rooster.

 

[RWise]

Good luck finding homes for roosters, 50% of every hatch is a rooster. I sell/give away some and send most to freezer camp, I do keep one from time to time. Also IF you give him/them away, you may not want to know what they will do with him/them,,,
I would integrate ASAP, My hatches go into the flock at 5 weeks old, which could b e sooner without cats.
Good luck with the single chick, it dont work for me. As long as moma cares for it, it should be ok, but when she kicks it out, it will have a hard time, and may not survive.

 

[Pardeechick]

Thanks, so it sounds like i should introduce the pullets to my older birds while my new chick still has mama's protection. None of my birds are really aggressive. The two older roos roam around together all of the time. I think since they are free to range from 7am till dusk, they get plenty of other activity. Mama took little chick out of the run yesterday and the roos basically ignored it, as did my EE hen.

 

[Sarahrae15]

We had a surprise chick come along a few days ago. We just left it with the flock because there is too much conflicting information about what to do. Two hens are taking care of it. The rooster and one other hen seems to not care it's around. It seems to just be running around doing normal chicken things with the flock. The two hens feed it and we make sure it drinks water. Hoping for the best.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We had a surprise chick come along a few days ago. We just left it with the flock because there is too much conflicting information about what to do. Two hens are taking care of it. The rooster and one other hen seems to not care it's around. It seems to just be running around doing normal chicken things with the flock. The two hens feed it and we make sure it drinks water. Hoping for the best.

Sounds like your chick will be okay. It all depends on the flock dynamics and the situation. I like when I can let them out without problems.