What does a broody hen do with her chicks in the first week after they hatch?

[Sequoia Raven Bird Farms]

When we initially gave my two broody Silkies chicks they kept them in the box for 2 days and then moved right in front of it the 3rd day. Every day since then they've wandered farther and farther from the nesting box and now on day 7 they go right in front of the door but don't leave.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

I typically have three or four broody hens hatch each year. I let mine hatch in the coop with the flock without isolating them. My nests are either 2 feet or 4 feet above the coop floor.

Some broody hatches are over within 24 hours of the first one hatching and the hen brings them off of the nest. She says jump and they do, then bounce up and run to her. Some hens don't bring the chicks off of the nest until well into the third day after the first one hatches. It is nice when they all hatch about the same time, those hatches that drag out can get stressful for me but I leave that decision up to the hen.

My coop is 8 feet x 12 feet. The pop door is about 12" above the coop floor and the run outside. No ramps. My hens typically keep the chicks inside the coop for two to three days after bringing them off of the nest before venturing outside. I keep food and water on the floor where the chicks can get to them. I use pavers and build steps both on the inside and on the outside of the pop door so the chicks can hop up.

With my nests so high the chicks do not go back to the nest at night. The broody takes them to sleep on the coop floor. Once she starts taking them out during the day they go out in the morning and come back in at dark to sleep in the coop. My area outside is over 2,000 square feet so lots of room.

I don't know what your coop looks like. How big it is, is it elevated or on the ground, a ramp, any of that. Regardless it is a good idea to be out there when they are going to bed to make sure all the chicks make it in with the broody hen. The first few nights you may need to help, especially if it is elevated with a ramp. They will soon figure it out but even with my steps I've had to help a couple of times.

Each brood of chicks is different, even if they are the same breeds. The same broody can be different with different broods. Some broody hens can be better than others but the majority are really good at taking care of their chicks. I use weasel words like "typically" a lot because each brood and each hen can be different. I had one broody not take her chicks outside for a week after coming off of the nest for example. Good luck with yours.

Here's my coop and run situation. I have my run blocked off from the coop so my broody can stay peacefully in the coop. Lucky I built a secondary coop inside the run so the rest of the flock has a place to stay. I can let them out of the run in the day. The coop will be too high up at first for tiny baby chicks to come outside and get back in. I will need to get more blocks for them. The nesting trough is up too high also I think for baby chicks. I think the hen can probably make a nest on the floor after the chicks come off.

 

[Perris]

This is my first broody and I need to learn the process of how the hen cares for the chicks.

Does the hen take the chicks out much in the first week? Or do they stay mostly in the coop?

My broodies hatch within the flock, and take their chicks free ranging as soon as they come off the nest. That is, as soon as the last chick has hatched and dried off, or 3 days after the first one hatched, if one or more fails to hatch. Here's a broody encouraging 2-day olds to leave the coop and come down the ramp.

The broody keeps them quite close to the coop initially, and frequently stops for them to rest and warm under her, and gradually increases the range day by day, while she introduces them to all the edibles they can forage and everything else they need to know.

As Ridgerunner said, the chicks may need assistance to get back in the nest for the first couple of days, especially if it involves climbing a ramp. This one was particularly well organised and got them all up on her own very quickly

Having a broody and chicks is my favourite part of chicken-keeping. I hope you enjoy yours too.

 

[Dlm2plus]

I have a small flock of mixed bantams. This is my 2nd time for one of my girls hatching when she went broody with eggs from a nearby farm as I have no roos. I use the pop up brooder (it's a puppy tent) in the run. Gives the rest of the flock a chance to see and hear the chicks while still letting me control their diet. The two pictured are Mille flyer duccles hatched 6.12 with my mottled cochin
They started coming out a few hours a day on Sunday. It also helps that this is ground level as the are so so tiny.

 

[Shahnaz13]

We used a hen to raise golden pheasants in a separate aviary from everybody else. Mom took them for a "walk" around their home after 20 hours of hatching and I think the babies decide on the outing, mom just followed them. All went perfectly well.

 

[altballard]

My broody is on her 2 bunch of chicks. Her first bunch were 3 Roos last fall. This time the babies (all girls - I bought them that way & she adopted) got out of the coop before she was ready when they were 9 days old. day 10 we had to put her and all 7 babies back inside the coop at night because of a storm and they were not going by themselves. Last night Day 11 we could not get all the babies back in with momma and she about killed herself to get back to them so we had to let her sleep outside the coop in the run all night. They slept under the ramp to the coop in the B/W pic you can see her tail sticking out. and in the 1 color pic you can see the hole she made dust bathing before bed. I've been out this morning and all are fine. And the B/W pic is from my camera in the run so I kept an eye on them all night too! Trying to figure out what to do about tonight!

 

[Trampmom]

My broodies hatch within the flock, and take their chicks free ranging as soon as they come off the nest. That is, as soon as the last chick has hatched and dried off, or 3 days after the first one hatched, if one or more fails to hatch. Here's a broody encouraging 2-day olds to leave the coop and come down the ramp.
View attachment 3864335
The broody keeps them quite close to the coop initially, and frequently stops for them to rest and warm under her, and gradually increases the range day by day, while she introduces them to all the edibles they can forage and everything else they need to know.

As Ridgerunner said, the chicks may need assistance to get back in the nest for the first couple of days, especially if it involves climbing a ramp. This one was particularly well organised and got them all up on her own very quickly View attachment 3864346
Having a broody and chicks is my favourite part of chicken-keeping. I hope you enjoy yours too.

I was wondering what the chains hanging down in front of the door are for?

 

[Perris]

I was wondering what the chains hanging down in front of the door are for?

they are a fox deterrent, and they also act as a fly screen (just like the full size one for the back door here, leftover sections of which were used to make small versions for the coops).