What is your advise to someone thinking of using a Brahma to raise chicks?

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I have a (currently) 7 month old Dark Brahma hen who is just the sweetest, most docile hen in my flock, and the moment I got her as a little chick I thought "boy would she make a good mama!". Next spring I am thinking of getting another batch of chicks (if I can get my dog to stop chasing them), but this time I am thinking about having this girl raise them outside, rather than me inside. I would not be having her hatch the chicks, as I don't have a rooster, but she would raise them from day 1. Here are a bunch of questions I have, but don't feel obligated to answer all of them (there's a lot lol):

• Would a 1yo Brahma make a good mama?
• Can the chicks be a few days old when you introduce them to their new mama, or do I have to find day old chicks?
• How do you tell when a hen is truly ready to brood versus just being fussy about her nest?
• What type of nesting area works best for broody hens raising chicks?
• Should she be separated from the rest of the flock?
• How often should the nesting box be cleaned during the broody period?
• How do you prevent predators or other hens from disturbing the nest?
• How many chicks can a single hen reasonably care for?
• How do you know if chicks are getting enough warmth and attention?
• When is it safe for the chicks to start exploring outside the nest?
• How do you handle the transition from broody hen to independent chicks?
• Have you ever had problems with the hen rejecting or abandoning chicks? How did you handle it?
• What are the biggest mistakes that first time broody hen users make?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Has this hen ever gone broody? If not, all your other questions are kinda moot.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Has this hen ever gone broody? If not, all your other questions are kinda moot.

She has not gone broody, but she has also not started laying yet either.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

If a hen goes broody - sits on eggs and won't leave them - then she is a candidate for giving her day-old chicks you purchase and putting them under her after she's sat for almost 3 weeks., which is how long it takes eggs to hatch. If you don't have a broody hen, forget it, you have to raise them yourself.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I raise them from day 1. Here are a bunch of questions I have, but don't feel obligated to answer all of them (there's a lot lol):

• Would a 1yo Brahma make a good mama?

No telling.

• Can the chicks be a few days old when you introduce them to their new mama, or do I have to find day old chicks?

Day old is best or they may not bond to each other.

• How do you tell when a hen is truly ready to brood versus just being fussy about her nest?

If she sleeps in the nest three nights, is my test, and stays on it all day.

• What type of nesting area works best for broody hens raising chicks?

A safe area the other hens can't get to. If you have other hens trying to lay in the same nest, eggs get broken.

• Should she be separated from the rest of the flock?

Not until you give her the babies.

• How often should the nesting box be cleaned during the broody period?

Never. Or only if there's a really good reason to, like a rotten egg explodes or shd grts full of ants or something.

• How do you prevent predators or other hens from disturbing the nest?

Be sure it's safe.

• How many chicks can a single hen reasonably care for?

I had two hens recently raise 21. But one hen only ended up with 7, Atilla the Hen wanted them all to herself.

• How do you know if chicks are getting enough warmth and attention?

If they're alive, they're fine. Let mama do what she does, don't interfere.

• When is it safe for the chicks to start exploring outside the nest?

When mama hen takes them. Usually about Day Two or Three. She'll take care of them, don't worry.

• How do you handle the transition from broody hen to independent chicks?

Again, that's her job, not yours. Just sit back and watch.

• Have you ever had problems with the hen rejecting or abandoning chicks? How did you handle it?

Nope. Usually if they do it's because there is something wrong with the chick. You can try to save it if you want but if you give it back to the mother she will probably kill it.

• What are the biggest mistakes that first time broody hen users make?

Interfering.

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[BigBlueHen53]

We did separate Atilla and SweetHen when we gave them the 21 chicks. But in a day or two the chicks had found a gap that enabled them to get into the run with the remainder of the flock. So Atilla and Sweet flew OVER the 4' fence to join the babies, and just like that, they were integrated with the flock. They were perfectly fine. Nobody wanted to mess with Atilla!

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

This is what I've gathered from others on possible difficulties:
If she gets spooked by the chicks or doesn't recognize them as hers, which will be obvious within the first 24 hrs with a dead or alone chick, she isn't fit to be a mama. You really cannot tell how she will be before she goes broody and raises some chicks already. Hormones can change a chicken significantly. Also, the advice for letting her sit on fake eggs for 30 days and then putting the chicks under her with minor disturbances is a good idea. Do not move her! The only time you can safely move her without breaking a brood is after the 31st day of brooding when, in a normal brooding cycle, all the chicks should be hatched. Try to make a small broody coop or area divider to keep her and her chicks safe from other chickens. Also, it is recommended to look in to flock dynamics for reintegration of the possible mama and chicks.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Not 30 days. 20 days. Twenty-one days is how long it takes eggs to hatch normally.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I wouldn't say a hen is a bad mama if she rehects one chick out of a clutch. She may know it's not viable for some reason.

 

[PoppasGrill]

She is a good looking girl.
We let Momma decide when they are old enough to be on their own, usually she will just walk away from them and join the rest of the flock.
I’ve tried introducing day olds to a broody without good results, so never tried again.
Breeds make a difference also, I know the none of our barred rocks are good with young chicks, our Speckled Sussex is great with chicks and our EE have been tolerant of young’uns being around.