Well they hatched now what??

[z3lda3]

Hi, so here’s the thing..I’ve hatched out chicks 2 ways, using an incubator. Hatch them, used an indoor brooder with heat lamp, and slowly integrated them into an he flock. And using a broody who stayed in the coop with her flock. Both ways were great, although my broody did all the work and that was awesome.
Well this time I’ve got a broody, a bantam Cochin and she’s indoors. (In an armoire in my bedroom actually). The temps got way down especially at night, 9 degrees, and just for piece of mind I brought her in. Her 2 little eggs hatched, all is well. But now what? Do I just keep mama and chicks indoors for a few weeks? Do I just slowing integrate them, put them in the brooder I have in the coop once it’s warms up a bit? How should I go about handling this situation?

 

[BantyChooks]

That's a tough one, since she's inside now you certainly don't want to stick them outside straight away, as the temperature change will be too much. I would keep them inside for a while, at least a week until the chicks are stronger, and then once the temperatures go up I would put them in the coop brooder and monitor closely. If they seem uncoordinated, weak, or very cold, you may have to bring them inside again.

I see you are in NC, so it should warm up fast enough that you won't be stuck with chickens in your house all winter. Best of luck.

 

[z3lda3]

That's a tough one, since she's inside now you certainly don't want to stick them outside straight away, as the temperature change will be too much. I would keep them inside for a while, at least a week until the chicks are stronger, and then once the temperatures go up I would put them in the coop brooder and monitor closely. If they seem uncoordinated, weak, or very cold, you may have to bring them inside again.

I see you are in NC, so it should warm up fast enough that you won't be stuck with chickens in your house all winter. Best of luck.

Thank you! The weather here has been bananas! A couple days of 70 degrees weather and then single digits. I was so concerned about the eggs ( she’s a first time mama, and she and my rooster are the only bantams I have) I didn’t think ahead I can definitely keep them inside, I’ve done it a couple times before. I just want to make sure I’m doing the right thing. Hopefully this weather clears up soon, my flock are so confused. “Yes it’s spring! No wait it’s winter…lay eggs, no hold on it’s snowing again..”