My Broody RIR wouldn't stop setting, so I have given in and let her hatch a clutch. I live in the California High Desert and my coop is 6' x 10' and I have a covered run which is 300 sf (15' x 15'). I can't let them free range due to the large numbers of coyotes (often strolling by the chicken coop!) in the area but they do get out on weekends when i'm there to supervise. Total, I have 9 hens and a rooster. My confusion lies whether to let mom raise them in the main coop (I would make a separate place for them and mom for the first few days or so to make sure they are eating, drinking and walking well with no pine shavings) or should I make an entirely new setup for mom and the chicks? I have read both... to separate and to keep integrated. I heard mom will protect the chicks from the others and then I hear they will kill the chicks. The inside of my coop is deep litter method with pine shavings. Feeders are raised so chicks couldn't eat layer feed. What are your opinions? I also would like it if they were raised with the others as the integration process would be so much easier rather than trying to introduce pullets when older (extra roos will be sold or meat). Please, I hope someone can help me make sense of this.
To summarize my question, is it okay to raise mom/chicks with other hens with the space I outlined above?
To summarize my question, is it okay to raise mom/chicks with other hens with the space I outlined above?
