Questions on Broody if the chicks hatch

[Leatherworker]

This is the first time I am letting this hen sit. She got broody same time last year and I spent time breaking her. I'm just to busy this year. I got a couple of eggs from my neighbors hens who stay with the rooster. If these hatch, do I need to keep chick feed in a separate place for the chicks when they start going out with mom? So I usually buy chicks and raise them, this is new for me. I'm thinking the girls will probably eat it up. lol

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You can set up a separate feeder, but the hens generally will gobble it up. This year I put an old wire crate over the feed so only the chicks can get under it, and I have done the same with a piece of fencing elevated on bricks.

Sometimes I just switch the whole flock over to a non medicated chick starter. Just be sure to add a separate bowl of oyster shells for the calcium.

 

[Leatherworker]

Great idea, thank you.