Re-introducing broody with chicks to the flock

[stuckinthecity]

I have a little EE hen that has adopted 10 australorp chicks and I have seperated her with her babies. My question is, when do y'all think I can put her and her babies back with the other hens? She's the head hen so that is a little bit better...But last time I added them too early and the chicks kept getting eaten by snakes, so I want to wait untill they're big enough so that snakes aren't a big issue. I was thinking about 6-8 weeks, but by that time the hen will probably start weaning them won't she?

 

[Gonzo]

I would wait until the chicks have more size to them. At 6~8 weeks they're still going to be picked on by the others.

 

[stuckinthecity]

She is the head hen though, if that makes things better

 

[Brindlebtch]

When I had my broody separated with her chicks from the flock, she looked so miserable that after 2 weeks I let her loose with them again, chicks and all. They did fine. If any other hen even looked at a chick crosseyed the broody was all over them. All the other hens learned quickly to leave the chicks alone.

 

[Beekissed]

If you place her where the flock can see her and the biddies, but cannot reach them, for a few days, things go more smoothly. I have a broody with 20 meaties of 3 weeks... I put them in the flock at 2 wks. They got a few disciplinary pecks when they got in the way of the fat girls and their food, but no incidents of note. The other hens just ignore them now.

I free range, so my experiences may not be typical of birds kept in a coop/run setup.

 

[ReiMiraa]

i am interested in this as i have 2 broodys and i free range too. they are both in spearate pens where everybody can see each other and say hi.....

so i am wondering when i could let them all out (this coming weekend is the hatch date)

i also have 4wk and 2wk chicks in separate pens. 20 2 weeks in the brooder and 11 4 weeks in a chicken tractor.

 

[stuckinthecity]

Oh, well I mean If I was free ranging them I would have no worries at all about them. It's just they're confined to a 10x10 kennel untill I get home to let them out. And that's when the problems seem to happen....when you're not at home...

 

[LyonFuzz]

My broody silky just hatched out a sebright and a suspected EE chick and she's in with the rest of the flock. No one has bothered her at all. The babies are just 4 days old and she has already had them out foraging with her. She too is the head hen though.

 

[boxermom]

I tried to put my first broody and chicks out when they were 2 weeks old. She was frantic. The other birds weren't free ranging yet, still to much snow so they were locked in the barn together. She was ready to leave the chicks though, when they were 4 weeks old. They haven't had any troubles. Some are even roosting with the "big girls." My 2nd broody's chicks are 1 1/2 wks old. I'm going to try to let them out when they are 2 wks. I'll see what happens. They are in a stock tank in the chicken barn. The older chickens can see them, but can't get to them. I really want to give her the opportunity to take them outside.

 

[stuckinthecity]

Thanks for the responses guys! I guess I'll just let them out at about 3-4 weeks, because I put her cage with the babies out there in the pen and she's already pecking the hens if they get too close. Things will probably go good.