Two broodies - will chicks be OK outside?

[mountainchickens]

Hi! We have two broodies in our outdoor nesting box. It is the top half of a cat litter box on a overturned plastic tote lid full of clean sawdust. We are flooring the run with woodchips within the next 3 days and covering the whole under-the-coop outdoor area (where the nesting box is) with clean sawdust. Also any opinions would be welcomed on whether to floor the under-the-coop area with sawdust or woodchips.
The broodies are getting adopted day-old chicks on Thursday. One of them has been broody before so we know she's a good mom, and I think the other one will be too They are in the same nesting box, it's our only outdoor one.
My main question is, will the little chicks be OK outside with their moms from day one? Should we separate the under-the-coop area (where they'll be and where the nesting box is) from the main run to make sure the other hens don't bother them until they're ready? Mostly just: will they be OK outside?
Thanks!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They'll absolutely be OK. Throughout the millennia, hens haven't chosen to hatch chicks indoors. I would be cautious of the use of sawdust. Hens show the chicks what to eat and absent that, chicks will eat whatever is at their feet. They don't yet know what food is and may ingest too much sawdust.

 

[mountainchickens]

They'll absolutely be OK. Throughout the millennia, hens haven't chosen to hatch chicks indoors. I would be cautious of the use of sawdust. Hens show the chicks what to eat and absent that, chicks will eat whatever is at their feet. They don't yet know what food is and may ingest too much sawdust.

Thank you! I don't think we'll use sawdust as a flooring under the coop; I'm not sure the risk is worth it and we're aiming for all the chicks to live this time. Hopefully their mothers will show them what to eat before they try the pine shavings in the nesting box.

 

[aart]

Mostly just: will they be OK outside?

Sure, as long as she has shelter from sun/rain/wind, mama should keep them comfy.
Now whether your 2 broodies get along in the same space may be another story.
Are their eggs due to hatch at the same time?

we're aiming for all the chicks to live this time

What happened the other time(s)?

 

[mountainchickens]

Sure, as long as she has shelter from sun/rain/wind, mama should keep them comfy.
Now whether your 2 broodies get along in the same space may be another story.
Are their eggs due to hatch at the same time?


What happened the other time(s)?

Yeah, the eggs are due to hatch the same day, as the second broody went broody a little later but before she went broody the original broody was sitting on all the eggs, some of which the second broody now has. (Which is a little confusing when put like that!) They've got along so far, but who knows. They only have a few days left, till Friday.
The other times... well, in September coccidiosis killed some of our chicks. After that, in October or November, a bear wiped out four of our remaining six... and after that, of the two who were left, one was a rooster. We ended up returning those two to their original farm. In late November we got five more chicks, three of whom were roosters (all were sexed females...) and were returned. Then early this spring/winter we got three more, one of whom was a rooster and one who mysteriously got sick and passed away. Then one went broody and hatched three chicks, two of whom didn't survive; the other was a rooster (How I wish we could keep roosters)... and that brings us to now. It's our first time mail-ordering chicks so fingers crossed none die during or after shipping.
I'm determined to make the best possible home for these coming chicks in the setup we have. The woodchips will help with our run setup. And the poop boards for the coop will soon be done.

 

[aart]

Yikes!!
Hopefully your girls will get along, so cool when they co-broody,
but have a plan B ready.

 

[mountainchickens]

Yikes!!
Hopefully your girls will get along, so cool when they co-broody,
but have a plan B ready.

Yeah, we haven't had the best luck especially with roosters!
Yes - I'm glad they decided to go broody together because it means we can get more chicks! Right now our plan involves quite a few chicks and selling a couple when they are older. The proven broody can probably mother more chicks than the first-time girl. I can't wait to see them all together, especially if the broodies get along well!

 

[janiedoe]

I had 4 broodies this spring, two opted to sit together. Those two hatched and raised their chicks together. The other two broodies hatched theirs apart but never bothered each others chicks and the chicks all flocked together.
If I understood this, you stated they are sitting on eggs and that you are getting mail order chicks?
Will they be hatching the eggs, adopting chicks, or both?
Some hens will adopt chicks, some won't. I doubt they will adopt if they hatch their own eggs. Do you have a brooder ready for emergencies?

 

[mountainchickens]

I had 4 broodies this spring, two opted to sit together. Those two hatched and raised their chicks together. The other two broodies hatched theirs apart but never bothered each others chicks and the chicks all flocked together.
If I understood this, you stated they are sitting on eggs and that you are getting mail order chicks?
Will they be hatching the eggs, adopting chicks, or both?
Some hens will adopt chicks, some won't. I doubt they will adopt if they hatch their own eggs. Do you have a brooder ready for emergencies?

Yes, they're sitting on 9 eggs and we're getting mail order chicks They will be just adopting the chicks, unless our boy has been mating with them. He's only 3 months old but we don't know whether he's mating them yet or not (we were on vacation when and before they went broody. He could've started mating them when we were gone). If any of the eggs they're sitting on are fertilized, they will hopefully both hatch and adopt chicks. I've read that some people have success putting adoptive chicks under them just as some of their chicks are hatching.
Most likely they'll just be adopting. We do have a plan B brooder

 

[aart]

When are the eggs due to hatch, have you candled them at all, and when are the chicks arriving?