Should I remove the hatched chick from the broody?

[chickenphile]

She is in our broody pen. I was worried about the chick(s) getting cold. How long should I wait before I remove the other eggs?


But I was wondering about the other chickens. When can I and how do I introduce Mommy and babie(s) back into the flock?

thanks
Chris

 

[H2OKarensa]

I'm going to be in the same boat pretty soon with chicks hatching underneath a broody mama. This is my first time I've been doing a lot of lurking and reading. I understand that the broody mama will take care of the chicks, but my nesting box is about 18 inches off the ground.
Will I need to help the babies get down or does mama take care of this as well? Should I remove the chicks once they've all hatched and put them in a brooder box?

 

[laughingllama75]

when there are other eggs to hatch, I put a real shallow dish of water and a dish of chick starter to keep chick and mom happy. I find this helps for a few days. good luck.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

When Mama is ready to take her kids for their first outing, she'll get out of the nest & bluk-bluk-bluk for her kids to follow. They might be able to navigate an 18" drop, but maybe not be able to get back in. You could make a type of ramp for them, or put the nest box on the ground. Or the Mama might find a new place she prefers for her nest.

Don't take the chicks away from the Mama to put them in a brooder box! Why do the work to raise chicks when you've got an animal to do it for you?