To separate, or not to separate, that is the question

[petchickenlover]

should we separate the chicks from the flock when they hatch, or not?
whats your experience?

thanks in advance!

 

[Judy]

I don't. Some do. There are pros and cons. The chicks are healthier raised with the flock, they pick up immunities from the others if nothing else, and they also learn some finer points of being a chicken. But they can get attacked, especially if the mama is not a good mama. Looks to me like those who have had chickens for a long time tend not to.

Here are two threads where this is discussed at length. The first is pretty short and the second pretty long -- but the long one contains an awful lot of informative personal experience.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=215937&p=1

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=36944

My advice? Read up, and do what you are comfortable with.