When can I let the broody with babies out with the flock?

[Lisa202]

My broody just hatched 2 bantam chicks on Monday. They're tiny for their age, but they do eat. I have med chick starter in there for them, but when I give the mommy waxworms, she gives them to the babies who gobble them down.

I would like to let the mommy out of the broody cage as she's been in there for 2 weeks now.

Is it to early to expose the little ones to the bigger chickens?

 

[LarryPQ]

Umm..it depends. I have had good luck and bad luck with letting them go in with the rest of the flock.

I had a very bad experience where a broody's lone chick was stepped on. The chick's leg was massively broken, and the broody kept trying to make it better, get the chick under her. We had to put the chick down, which ended up being one of those "why do I have chickens?" moments.

On the other hand, I have had OEGBs raise chicks in with the population without issue.


Nowadays, I don't let the broodies in with the general population until the chicks start wanting to roost.

 

[Judy]

I've had good experience with this, have let 5 broodies raise their chicks with the flock, without incident. If her instincts are good, the mama will fiercely chase off any approaching hens and keep her chicks safe. I suppose it just depends on the broody, and maybe a little good luck. Interestingly, if there is a roo, he will likely help the broody.

 

[chicknmania]

It really does depend on the mom. It's kind of touchy b/c you don't want to keep them confined so long
that mama abandons them as soon as they go out. Five weeks is about when we turn ours out with mama. If it works the way it's supposed to, that gives them about a week, more or less, to adjust to the flock, with her help, bf she decides she's done with them. Some moms stay with their babies for weeks.

 

[chicknmania]

WE had a roo who would foster ALL of our babies, he would stay with them long after mom was done.
I miss him very much, he was killed by a possum last month.

Along with a pullet he was fostering.

 

[Lisa202]

Well, I do have a rooster and I think he's one of those good ones everyone speaks about. But..... the mommy is the question. While she's a good mommy to the chicks, she's not that fierce. The most she does to me is make the growling noise, but that's it. I'm able to pick her up, pick up the babies and generally do whatever I want with her and them. She's low in the pecking order and generally a very sweet girl, so I don't know how fiercely she will be able to protect them.

Then there is the size issue. They are so tiny. I have all bantams, but these little chicks are small. (which was another question I had posted about)

I have a separate little coop that I planned on using for this purpose, but last week one of my brahmas became a nasty feather pecker and she's in there (jail) right now. I can't put her back with the others yet or they'll all be bald in 2 days.

I know the broody needs to get out to get exercise, but I just don't know what to do.

 

[LarryPQ]

Can you section off an area of the coop/run?



Like 10 by 10 feet?

 

[mommom4]

Being a newcomer, I've been so stressed over the hatching eggs. When separation didn't work (the mama would not sit on them), I put everyone back together and the eggs are hatching one day at a time-1st one today. We have 4 hens and 1 rooster. 3 hens are huddled together keeping the 6 chick/eggs nice and warm. We peeked at one of them, but it's too chilly to keep the brooding box exposed today. It's really exciting! Our only worry is the brooding boxes are up higher and we've put cardboard up to hopefully keep the chicks safe and the mamas can go over it. What next??? Once all 6 hatch out can we finally move them all on ground level in the dog pen we set up for them? or... do we leave them alone so the hens keep them warm? or... do we move chicks indoors to heat lamps???
Hope someone can help with the next step!