Question about letting Momma do her own thing raising chicks,

[stormylady]

I have had chickens for several years now and have raised babies but this is the first time I have let my girls hatch their own in the big coop. IN the past I have always separated out the broodies but I didn't this time and went out this morning and found Lady bird (Oprington/Cochin ) mix a 4 year old first time momma in the chicken yard with a little cutie pie, She just went broodie like a week ago so I'm pretty sure she stole the chick from another girl thats been sitting for weeks Anyway the question is this do I let her keep the baby in the big coop or should I put them in a seperate coop?? I did put her in a open dog crate with straw and she was perfectly happy to stay in there this evening I also sat outside with them today and watched and none of the other chickens even came close or acted interested in the baby but Ladybird warned off a few of the girls so maybe they had words earlier in the day but I saw no aggressive behavior from any of the other birds. So do I let her do her thing and raise the chick with all the other birds or put them in a completely seperate coop? Thanks Sandy

 

[Judy]

She sounds like she's doing well, and there is peace in the flock. My broodies have raised all their chicks in with the flock. The big advantage, besides the advantages of broody raised chicks, is the chicks are already part of the flock when the mama stops mothering them.

 

[annanimal]

The mama will protect the baby from any of the other birds, since there is only one chick it is very easy to protect it so i think you should keep it in the coop with the others!
Good Luck!

 

[CAjerseychick]

Just be careful-- I have a similar situation and when the hen came out to eat this AM (she has 4 chicks) - I had taken them out of the dog crate they were in for one night and put them in the coop last night--1 didnt go down the ramp like the others and tried to squeeze out thru a crack between the cleaning flap and the coop and... got stuck-- I heard cheeping for a long time and came out to look... (all the chick had to do was go backwards, but they dont think that way)... I got the chick out and put it back with mom (who is back in the open dogcrate filled with straw in the run area ( It started raining!!!!! so I put a blanket and tarp over it! )...

 

[stormylady]

Thankyou CA Jersey chick, I understand what your saying, I put the open dog crate in the big coop *chicken house)
just so that they didn't have to try and climb up into the nesting boxes the crate is totally open so that they, Momma and chick can come in and go out at will so there is no chance of baby geting stuck on anything. I hope anyway, The dog crate is on the floor of the coop so there is no ramp howeverI do need to put a ramp on the big coop so the chick can get back inside the chicken house with his momma because She was prepared to bed down with him last night under the coop outside because s/he (the chick) couldn't get back inside with her. I hope that makes sense to ya. On my way out now to check on them. Thanks so much ! Sandy