When they lay an egg does that mean it's time to rejoin the flock?

[Pineywoods Peepers]

My Silkie hatched out and raised a couple of chicks. The chicks are 6 weeks old. The Silkie is still very motherly to the "little ones" (who are almost as big as she is), but she laid an egg today. Should I go ahead and put her back in with the flock? Is there a way to put the mama and the chicks in with the other chickens so that no one gets eaten?

I have another Silkie who hatched out chicks at the same time as this mama. Should I just go ahead and put both of these girls back in with the flock and put their little ones together until they're big enough to join the others?

 

[debilorrah]

You can put the mom back. See my BYC page for how to integrate the chicks with little pecking. Seriously. Not to toot my horn, we found a way that works every time and have integrated MANY chicks.

 

[AZBootsie]

Quote:
Cool!! I am going to have to rig up something like this for my brooder babies.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Cool!! I am going to have to rig up something like this for my brooder babies.

I have to give credit to this site for the information that lead to us building that set up. We had NO IDEA!!!! But it works!!!

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

Quote:
Thanks! I'm gonna have to try this!

 

[Lisa202]

Quote:
Great info and ideas! What would you do different if you got chicks and stuck them under a broody hen to raise?

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

Is it tough to integrate the mamas back into the flock after being separated for 9 weeks?