Raising chicks with mom

[Merc_smallFarms]

I have a broody chicken with a bunch of fertile eggs. What can I expect when they hatch? Can I leave the chicks with her? there’s three other chickens and a rooster living in that coop too. I know chicks require different food so I’m nervous that when I try to give them food the other chickens will try to eat it. I still prefer for the mother to be with her babies but if that’s not right then I’ll do what I have to. Most chicken raisers I know incubate them and then raise them in a box. This is first time expecting eggs, any tips?

 

[crazychickenman007]

I have a broody chicken with a bunch of fertile eggs. What can I expect when they hatch? Can I leave the chicks with her? there’s three other chickens and a rooster living in that coop too. I know chicks require different food so I’m nervous that when I try to give them food the other chickens will try to eat it. I still prefer for the mother to be with her babies but if that’s not right then I’ll do what I have to. Most chicken raisers I know incubate them and then raise them in a box. This is first time expecting eggs, any tips?

I have found that it is much easier to do chicks this way rather than a brooder set up. I’ve hatched around 50 chickens so far and letting mom do all the work has been the easiest (unless the hen is a bad mom which some are, they can be homicidal, not sit the whole duration, or abandon the chicks).

In my experience it is a lot easier to provide the momma hen with everything the chick needs close by and let her do her thing. Assuming she is a good mom she will protect the chicks from the others and they will be naturally integrated into the flock which makes life for you a lot easier.

What I do is I get a bag of all flock crumbles (no need to be nervous it’s fine for all of them) and put that out with water close to the sitting hen.

It is really cool to see the hen teach them how to be chickens and how quick they learn.

Good luck!