When to introduce Mom & babies back to flock?

[SaraheThomas]

Hey all!

This is the first time I've let a broody girl hatch her own chicks, I separated them when they started to hatch. Now -- it's been 2 weeks, and I am wondering if I should put them back with the rest of the flock, or just mom back in the flock and wait for the babies to grow older? I don't want her to get sad without being with them, she really enjoys them!

Cute pic of them for attention!

Thanks!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Congrats on the first time hatch!

First off, you don't want to separate mommy from babies. I accidentally did that too soon with one of my girls, and she never got over it. With putting them back into the flock, some let their broodies raise the chicks with the flock from day 1. I've heard both success and horror stories from that being done, so it's a risk either way. For my broodies, I return the brooder and chicks to the flock at 3-4 months old.

 

[Ridgerunner]

This is the first time I've let a broody girl hatch her own chicks, I separated them when they started to hatch. Now -- it's been 2 weeks, and I am wondering if I should put them back with the rest of the flock, or just mom back in the flock and wait for the babies to grow older? I don't want her to get sad without being with them, she really enjoys them!

What do your facilities look like? How much room do you have and how many other chickens? We all have different circumstances so different answers work better for different ones of us.

I have a lot of room. My coop is 8 feet x 12 feet, I have two other shelters they can use for sleeping, and I have over 2,000 square feet available outside. I have one mature rooster and typically 6 to 8 mature hens but I may have up to 45 chicks of various ages all together with them. I let my hens hatch with the flock and raise the chicks with the flock from Day 1. I have enough room that Mama can take care of her babies and she integrates them with the flock for me. Others don't have enough room to do that.

I've had broody hens wean their chicks at 3 weeks old, totally leave them on their own to make their own way with the flock without any help. I've had broody hens not wean their chicks until they are well over 2 months old. One important part of this is that the chicks have enough room to avoid the older chickens until they grow old enough to join the pecking order, about the time the pullets start to lay. Until then they form a sub-flock, staying separated from the adults. I have widely separated feed and water stations so they can eat and drink without being bullied by the adults.

I don't know what the right answer is for you. It depends some on your facilities and a lot on your personality, wants, and desires. There is no best way, just the way that works for you.