Raising chicks with hens

[Silvija]

Hello,
I'm first time chicken keeper and this spring will be my first to have hens with chicks. There are few things I can not figure out and I would appreciate some ideas.
We are about to build rather big chicken run. It's going to be not less than 2 ares, maybe even 3 which is around 2000 to 3000 square feet (if google ir right). I want to give them as much space as possible since free ranging is not a good idea (woods around). It will not have a roof of course but we plan to plant small trees, bushes, to build hiding places and so on. Chicken coop is were horse was once kept just to imagine how it looks like and nests are higher from the ground, those square things on the wall, I call them cubicles. Chickens lay eggs there and moment will come then some will go broody. I am trying to figure out best way to keep them and chicks. Nest is high so to keep her and chicks there is not a good idea I think. We have rat problam and since it's a rather old farm I do not think we will ever be free from them completely so I don't feel confortable leting her stay on the ground. Also little chicks will not be able to go outside untill they big enough to climb to the door. Only idea I have is to put broody hens outside in a sheltered nests like wooden box or something. I've heard that some people raise hens with chicks with the rest of the flock. Since it's a big run I thought it's a good idea, no need to build a mini run for every hen. But I'm affraid that some predator may come to the nest box and kill everything in it if I keep nest outside unprotected. Run itself will be protected from big animals like fox or dog but I guess small ones can find a weak spot easily enough. So there is my dilema. What would be the best way to keep hen with chicks in my situation? Maybe I am missing something obvious but since it's my first time I have no idea what it may be

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Predators will definitely come. Where are you located? That will tell us what kind of predators you may have and how to protect from them.
Weasels and mink can get into a space as small as an inch. If they get in, they'll kill everything in the building.
What breeds of hens do you have? That will determine if your hens may or may not become setters. Not all hens are likely to do so.
I assume you have a rooster.
The cubicles where they lay eggs are called nest boxes.
It depends on how high the nests are whether it is a problem. I've had chicks get back into nests that were 18" above the floor.

 

[Silvija]

I live in central Europe, Lithuania, near Baltic sea. We have polecats here as a main small predator killing chickens. I have a mixed breeds mostly but there are two kochins so I guess they will want to sit. And yes, there is a rooster. My nest boxes are about 18" hign too so if chicks can get so high I just leave them in one of them. Did you make some kind of ladder for them to climb? It's just hard for me to imagine a few days old chick flying but maybe they do? So it's not a problam to keep hen with chicks and rest of the flock together?

 

[BlueShadow]

If I have a broody hen sitting on eggs, I do not like her in the regular nest boxes. My nest boxes are metal, so harder to keep the eggs warm. Also, I do not want other chickens sneaking into the nest to lay more eggs or poop. Finally, there are a lot of reasons you may want to move a broody hen, and that is a lot easier if her nest is portable.

Therefore, when I have a hen go broody, I set up a nest for her in a cardboard box. I add hay so it is soft and a few fake eggs. I transfer her to the new nest box (nighttime is best) and wait a couple days to make sure she stays. If she stays, then I give her the eggs I want her to hatch. I usually leave the cardboard nest box just in the corner of the coop. If there are problems, I can either fence off that corner to make her own little pen, or I can move her to a separate area.

In your situation, I would build a small coop (like the size of a small doghouse) and run that are safe from predators, and put it in your larger run. You can look up "chicken tractor" for ideas. I would let broody hens raise their brood in there. I use this idea wit my birds. You would be surprised how often it is useful to have a separate pen even for your other birds.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

OK, so you have a much different base of predators than we do.
I deal with raccoons, opossums, mink, dogs, foxes, coyotes - and there are bears, mountain lions, bobcat and wolverines not far away that luckily I haven't had to deal with yet.
The chicks have an amazing ability to jump and with a little lift from wings. I was worried like you that once they hopped out, they wouldn't be able to get back in. They hopped out when they were a couple days old. I went out to gather materials to make a ramp for them. By the time I got to the coop, they had all jumped back in.
There are good and bad things about leaving the broody with the flock, as well as separating them. Raising them with the flock, the hen will protect the chicks from the rest of the flock and by the time she is done mothering them, they have been accepted as flock mates.
The major adjustment is that the whole flock will have to switch to a non-layer feed. The chicks will need 18% to 20% protein and about 1% calcium. Layer feed is usually a little lower in protein and about 4% calcium. The extra protein won't hurt the hens and you can provide the hens with extra calcium by offering oyster shell or other large particle source in a separate container.
The rooster shouldn't be getting high calcium anyway.
The Cochins are likely to be setters.
If you do leave them with the flock, you'll need to mark the eggs so you can remove any the other hens volunteer. That will prevent a staggered hatch.

 

[Silvija]

Thank you both for the answers! I am srarting to have some kind of idea what to do. If I deside to build a small coop for broody hens with secure run just for them can I keep all hens in a same space? Like one coop for the flock and one for all hens that go broody?
We are lucky with predators here I see. Bears and bobcats? Sounds not funny at all!

 

[BlueShadow]

Thank you both for the answers! I am srarting to have some kind of idea what to do. If I deside to build a small coop for broody hens with secure run just for them can I keep all hens in a same space? Like one coop for the flock and one for all hens that go broody?
We are lucky with predators here I see. Bears and bobcats? Sounds not funny at all!

I have used the same small coop for all broody hens BUT only one set of broody hen & chicks in the small coop at a time. When I do not have a broody in there, I have used it for birds that I wanted to separate from the flock for various reasons - disease, suspected egg eaters, roosters who were being problematic, etc. I have a small flock (about a dozen hens) that do not often go broody, so I don't have much trouble with needing the space for more than one bird at a time. The one time I did have 2 go broody at the same time, I just broke the second hen of being broody.

Also, be sure to clean the coop & run before putting a new set of broody & chicks in there.

 

[Silvija]

I have used the same small coop for all broody hens BUT only one set of broody hen & chicks in the small coop at a time. When I do not have a broody in there, I have used it for birds that I wanted to separate from the flock for various reasons - disease, suspected egg eaters, roosters who were being problematic, etc. I have a small flock (about a dozen hens) that do not often go broody, so I don't have much trouble with needing the space for more than one bird at a time. The one time I did have 2 go broody at the same time, I just broke the second hen of being broody.

Also, be sure to clean the coop & run before putting a new set of broody & chicks in there.

So one coop for one hen at a time. My flock isn't big also, ten hens and one roo. I like the idea of separate coop for hen and chicks, I think it's the easyest way to keep them safe. Thanks!