Okay so here is what I have going on (this is my first time with a broody hen) I have 2 buff orps that hatched some babies, right before they hatched I moved them to a seperate part of the coop for privacy and chick safety, at the same time I was hatching in the bator and as they hatched I would give them to my hens to take care of. They are doing great, the 2 hens are taking care of 7 babies and I have 5 more inside to give them, The youngest is 4 days old and the oldest is about 2 weeks. So here is the question: When can I let my hens take the babies to live with the rest of the flock which consists of 20 layers and 1 roo? The hens seem anxious to get out of their small space so I let them go out with the babies, they did well except she left 2 outside and did not even seem to notice. When can they all live together?
