Questions about raising chicks with mama hen

[Calbobal]

We are thinking of enclosing this old turkey pen for mamas and babies...for the first few weeks.
I’m including pictures of that and their run area. Which is huge.

 

[Peeps61]

My experience with a broody was pretty easy. She got under the azaleas in the front yard and sat there for the full 3 weeks, hatching out 4 chicks. She brought them over to the main flock 2 days after the first chick appeared, and all went just fine. The other birds were curious, but left the chicks alone. Occasionally, a chick would get another hen that looked like mom confused with the mother hen, but figured out pretty quickly which one was the mom after being pecked at. That's the worst it got. The whole affair was taken care of by the hen with no input from me at all.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think separating them causes more problems. What often people do, in the kindest way, is think to keep the tiny chicks away from the layers, until they are bigger and stronger, about 4 weeks.

But this works against chicken society and hormones. When the chicks hatch, their movement and sounds flip the hormones in the hen, she goes from a sitting trance, to an active feeder and protective mamma. She will take the chicks out, and introduce them to the flock.

Now if she has been left with the flock, she has been stomping around, growling once a day or so, the flock knows who she is, and gives her wide space. Which works well when she brings the chicks out.

The chicks and the mama will generally set it up so that the mamma is between the layers and the chicks. Soon, the flock is used to the chicks and ignores them. Integrated naturally.

If you separate them for three to four weeks. The flock forgets the broody hen. When you add them back in, they will attack her and the chicks. But by this time the hormones are beginning to wane. The chicks are o their own. The layers feel like they are being invaded, and it is often a wreck.

Mrs K

 

[Calbobal]

I think separating them causes more problems. What often people do, in the kindest way, is think to keep the tiny chicks away from the layers, until they are bigger and stronger, about 4 weeks.

But this works against chicken society and hormones. When the chicks hatch, their movement and sounds flip the hormones in the hen, she goes from a sitting trance, to an active feeder and protective mamma. She will take the chicks out, and introduce them to the flock.

Now if she has been left with the flock, she has been stomping around, growling once a day or so, the flock knows who she is, and gives her wide space. Which works well when she brings the chicks out.

The chicks and the mama will generally set it up so that the mamma is between the layers and the chicks. Soon, the flock is used to the chicks and ignores them. Integrated naturally.

If you separate them for three to four weeks. The flock forgets the broody hen. When you add them back in, they will attack her and the chicks. But by this time the hormones are beginning to wane. The chicks are o their own. The layers feel like they are being invaded, and it is often a wreck.

Mrs K

They are both top of the pecking order and that’s why I feel like any separation is futile. I appreciate your insight, if we use the enclosed turkey pen she will be seen by the others still.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I think separating them causes more problems. What often people do, in the kindest way, is think to keep the tiny chicks away from the layers, until they are bigger and stronger, about 4 weeks.

But this works against chicken society and hormones. When the chicks hatch, their movement and sounds flip the hormones in the hen, she goes from a sitting trance, to an active feeder and protective mamma. She will take the chicks out, and introduce them to the flock...

So so true. I like to say that the mama hen will do all of her babies' heavy fighting for them. This will result in chicks that fully understand the dynamics of the pecking order and integration into the flock is a non-issue.

Seeing is separation. Never think that it is not.

 

[Calbobal]

So so true. I like to say that the mama hen will do all of her babies' heavy fighting for them. This will result in chicks that fully understand the dynamics of the pecking order and integration into the flock is a non-issue.

Seeing is separation. Never think that it is not.

Okay. Something to think about. So you advise no separation at all? Keep them in the coop with mamas from get go?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Okay. Something to think about. So you advise no separation at all? Keep them in the coop with mamas from get go?

yes.