When do you seperate hen and chicks

[bstarr20]

My daughter has a broody hen and is buying some eggs from ebay for her to set on. At what age should or can we seperate and put her back with the others? We will be selling the chicks not keeping them so also at what age is it best to try and sell them?

 

[racuda]

By the time they are 4 to 6 weeks old, she will stop mothering them and they will be on their own. I gave away my excess roosters at 6 weeks.

 

[dancingbear]

I wouldn't take them away, either. I'd let her raise them like Racuda did. Then sell them. You can sell started pullets, easy. Lots of people want them. Started cockerels, not as much, but depending on the breed, you may still sell them. I've sold some full grown roos.

If I wanted to hatch eggs and sell day-old chicks, I'd use an incubator. More chicks at once, to make it worthwhile, and no upset, heart-broken, freaked-out hen if you took her chicks away right after she sat on them for three weeks. I know some people do this, but it just feels wrong, to me.