When broody’s chicks hatch ?s

[10xmama]

Saturday will be day 21 that our broody has been on her eggs. She started with 5 and I determined that only 3 are viable. I haven’t candled since last Saturday... so assuming all is well, hopefully we will have some chicks this weekend. This is my first time having a broody with fertile eggs... as this is the first time we’ve had a rooster in our flock.

So my questions:

— we had to move the broody and her eggs into our small coop so she could have some relief from the other hens. They kept coming into her nesting box and trying to push her off her nest. She’s been in there alone since last Sat. So once the chicks hatch, does she need to stay in the little coop with the chicks? She’s used to free ranging in the daytime with the flock. Can she go back into the flock with her chicks?

FWIW I have one rooster & 15 hens. They are in my big coop right next to the small coop where they can see each other from the runs.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

It's usually best to keep the new chicks and mama separate from the flock for a few weeks until the chicks are big enough to be able to avoid trouble if one of the other hens go after them. I usually put them out on the ground with mama in a special pen for safety. They will have easy access to food and water that way while mama teaches them the ropes. Also, she will need to have them under her at night until they get some feathers and your coop may not be set up for chick accessing a safe nest. This will be your hen's first time with chicks and she might have to learn a few things. Sometimes an experienced mama can raise a brood within her flock, but for a newbie, I would play it safe.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

First of all, congratulations on your broody. Keeping my fingers crossed all goes well. Resist temptation to peek until all babes are hatched. Momma will let you know because she will abandon any unhatched eggs to get up and tend to chicks. Have food and water close so momma can show babes the necessities.

I agree. In your situation, with your flock, you need to keep momma separate for 2 weeks with the babes. Then, upon careful oversight, introduce momma and chicks to the flock upon free range.

If your rooster is a proper boy, he will make sure momma and babes are undisturbed. If he is inexperienced or clueless, he may be a nuisance along with the other nosey hens who may attack the momma since she is essentially a "new" bird to the flock.

That's why you need babes older so they can move out of the way of any conflicts, but still young enough where momma will stand up for them. (Usually mommas fledge between 4 to 6 weeks of age).

If you have problems, then pen momma and babes up where the flock can see them but not touch them until the babes are about 3 weeks of age. By 4 weeks of age, the chicks are usually able to keep away from all altercations, and being seen by the flock for several weeks will have helped with integration.

In time, with observation, planning, and removal of any overly aggressive or clueless birds, you can get to the point where momma merely hatches in the coop and integrates upon day 2 or 3.

But that has taken me about 4 years of effort to get to, with a really good rooster and now going onto 3rd generation brooding hens.

My experiences
LofMc

 

[10xmama]

Thank you so much for the wise advice.

I’m thinking I can give the mama and babies some time to free range by letting them out and keeping the rest of the flock in their coop 1-2x a week. Some days I don’t let the flock out, when I’m too lazy to go open the run door... so they’d be fine if i did that some.

One other question — I’ve always ordered my chicks from a hatchery and always had them vaccinated. What should I do for these chicks? Would feeding them medicated chick feed suffice? Can the mama eat that? Thx, I’m excited to see how this goes!!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Medicated chick feed is Amprolium, which addresses coccidiosis.

Coccidia (a protozoa) is in the soil nearly everywhere. Chickens should build a natural immunity to it as they mature. It is when chicks are overwhelmed by the concentration of coccidia that it becomes a problem and escalates into coccidiosis, which is essentially chicken dysentery.

As to the vaccinations for Marek's (most common) and Newcastle, etc. It is possible to get those vaccines at mail supply companies (like Jeffers Pet), however, you typically have to buy them in lots of 1000, plus ice packed shipping, plus once made up it has to be used and thrown away.

Most small holders with a few chicks simply don't vaccinate. The chicks gain some immunity from momma with the coccidia being introduced to her poop at an early stage. The other stuff....well, old timers and small holders simply breed for sustainable breeds culling any that are sick.

So look at your local supply store. You have to vaccinate asap as chicks should be vaccinated for Marek's at day one to be effective (or mostly effective as marek's is not 100% vaccine and it only stops the tumor growth not the virus itself...which is why most breeders breed for resistance rather than relying on vaccines).

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[Peppercorngal]

Unlike everyone else I did not separate my broody hen. She sat in "her" nest in the regular coop the whole time. When her egg hatched (only one was fertile) I put food and water in the coop, which I never do. Day two chick was learning to eat inside the coop. Day three, Maggie moma had the chick outside to find the good food to eat. The food and water were removed from the coop. They are fully integrated with the flock without issue. Maggie is a great mom and will fluff up to protect her chick! Now it's day 4 and the chick is pretty much ignored at this point. Except by Maggie!

 

[10xmama]

That is so sweet! Love the pics.

I went to the feed store and got one bag of medicated chick feed. I started another thread to ask about time frame as today one of the chicks is starting to hatch. I’m so hoping things go well!!

 

[pennyJo1960]

You have excellent advice already good luck

 

[Lady of McCamley]

have the medicated feed out now. Momma can eat it with chicks. Your whole flock could eat it to with no harm to them, you, or eggs.

Congratulations on the hatchlings.

LofMc

 

[10xmama]

We have a chick!!! And the other two are starting!!

Baby #1/3