Should I take the chicks from her?

[MissPrissy]

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When they are the same size as the chickens in the main flock - standard chickens - about 16 weeks. Until they are big enough to fight back they can be bullied, starved and killed by older chickens. If you leave them with her you won't have this problem. they will be accepted as part of the flock because she will make it so.

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She will be finished with them in about a month from now if they are a week old. Go out and try to handle them one at a time for a little each day but leave them with her to raise or you will have alot of work on your hands.

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New chickens are new chickens. They will not be readily accepted in most cases. even a gentle roo can show aggression to new chickens.

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Same thing applies. You cannot just put them out and think all will be fine. They have to be up to size and able to defend themselves from the pecking order attacks that will happen.

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best get busy with some grow out pens or extra dog crates to sit in the coop to introduce them at a distance for a wekk or so.

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Go out a for a bit every day and handle them.

Save yourself a lot of trouble. Leave the chicks with the momma. You're going to have to introduce the ones in your brooder to the new flock as it is.

 

[Godiva]

OK folks you have convinced me! I am going to rearrange the broody tractor so I can get it more easily and I am just going to persevere until she is done with them. I think next time I might just leave her with one and put the majority with my tame Calypso... assuming there is a next time that they are broody at the same time! Sylvia has calmed down a lot since she has been in the same pen as Calypso and Frodo but the hormones have sent her over the top now!

I am going to park the relevant tractors next to each other so they are all seeing each other while they are growing up and hopefully the introductions will go smoothly... Thank you so much for all the feedback folks!!

 

[Wildsky]

I would like to add, I recently introduced my "baby" chicks to the flock - they were only 8 weeks old at the time.
I could be lucky - it could be the set up I have or ? So far my babies have been in the main coop with my standards, and bantams and bantam rooster - and all is well.

I have Safe zone's set up where the babies (and bantams as they are the same size) can run and hide, and the big girls can't "get" em - they run around together now just fine, the babies are on alert a lot of the time, but just today one of my babies took a bread crust right out of my BO's beak!

Same baby took a treat from in front of the rooster when he made his "treats over here girls" call - and he didn't chase her or go for her at all.

Could be my chickens have lots of space, could be my standards are used to seeing smaller chickens as they've been with the bantams all this time - could be the Rooster keeping the peace (I have seen him break up an argument between two standards)

 

[Ellie]

I just had the situation of a broody hen. I was worried because though the mom was very gentle and let me do what I wanted, the chicks yelled bloody murder and ran to their mom. I was very worried that they would not be tame.

Not to worry, Miss Prissy is right. The mom let them go on their own at 4 weeks. At 7 weeks they come running with the rest of the flock when I arrive. For treats of course, though I would have liked to think they love me!!

They are coming up to me and eating out of my hands. Don't worry, let the mama take care of them. WAY easier and much more natural.

Hope this helps,
Ellie

 

[Wildsky]

Here is a pic from last week.

The babies are in the back-ground (4 of them) and their safe zone is behind them in the corner - they have a safe zone in the coop as well, their brooder with a hole cut so they can get in and out.
(These are chicks I hatched and kept in the house for 8 weeks) Just to show how I added them at an early age - it can be done, I just don't think its the norm.

 

[Godiva]

Thanks Wildsky, may try something like that later on. I am going to be moving chickens around this weekend to get them all close to each other so they can get used to each other even while they are separated...