What do I do when my broody hen hatched chicks?

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

So can she eat chick food?? Because the chicks can’t eat adult food and any other tips would be great thanks so much!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Chick food is exactly what she needs. It is nutritious and she does not need the extra calcium since she is not laying eggs.

We handle broody hens so many different ways it's hard to give tips. There is no one way that is right where every other way is wrong. Any tip I give will be counter to what some other people do. I let my hens incubate and hatch with the flock, others isolate their broody hens during these phases. I let my broody hens raise their chicks with the flock, others don't. Some people have their hands all over the chicks and hens while they are hatching, I leave my broodies alone.

All I do when a hen is hatching is to keep clean food and water on the coop floor where the chicks can find it when the broody hen brings them off the nest. I do not put food or water in the nest where the chicks or broody can get to them, some do. I let the hen decide when to bring the chicks off the nest, others take that decision away form her. I let the hen decide when to take the chicks out of the coop, others decide that for her. Basically I provide food and water where the chicks can get to them after she brings them off the nest, clean the nest after she leaves it, and nothing else. I trust my broody hens to manage everything else.

I have a big walk-in coop and a lot of room outside. If yours is one of those little elevated things with a small run that might be more challenging. Your set-up may make other ways work better for you. Hopefully others will chime in on what they do.

Good luck! Do you have a broody ready to hatch?

 

[Aapomp831]

Leave the hen and the chicks alone with chick feed. She won’t need the extra calcium that’s in the adult food right now since she’s not laying eggs. She will eat the chick food as she teaches the chicks to eat. Once she seems them off in about 8 to 10 weeks she will start eating adult food again. I have the same situation going on and once the chicks joined the rest of the flock everyone got chick food, then grower/finisher with oyster shells left out for the adult laying hens. Once everyone is of laying age I will put out all layer pellets. I hope this helps!!

 

[Pork Pie]

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/guide-to-letting-broody-hens-hatch-and-raise-chicks

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Thanks everyone yes I have two silkies that are broody together!!