To let the hen have the babies, or no?

[Shared Acres]

Ok, I got my incubator in and I have my eggs in, but I thought I read that some people put the eggs back out in the nest box right before they hatch?

I would prefer to let a momma hen raise them. Hoping the babies would be accepted into the flock easier that way and the momma would watch after them if I free range them.

What do you think? I'm new to this!

 

[chicksgalore]

I personally would prefer to let them with the mama. I had a batch raised by their mom and she taught them everything they know. They will eagerly go out to free range every afternoon on their own now whereas the dozen I raised without a hen still stay in the pen. No big deal, I just think they learn a lot more. I didn't have to worry about them in with the rest of the flock as long as she was taking care of them either. Talk about a lot of spunk--she even chased off our St. Bernard a time or two. Then one day, she all the sudden decided she was done with them--just like that. They are still the low guys on the totem pole but they're old enough now to run. And then, there's just nothing like seeing a mother hen followed by a string of babies!

 

[Mahonri]

If you have a broody hen, I'd wait until the little fluffy buts hatch, then I would put them under her at night.

 

[Shared Acres]

She's not broody. Both my hens only sit on eggs at night (that I see).