When to move adoptive chicken mama and her 3 chicks out of crate and in with rest of flock?

[Hollysh]

Hello experienced chicken keepers,

Following the sage advice of many on this site, I moved my broody hen, Plum, from her spot in the nesting box into a dog crate in preparation for putting 3 two-day-old chicks under her. This was because her nest box is 4' off the ground and I feared for the safety of the chicks up there, and because Plum shares her coop with 5 other bossy hens who I was worried might harm the chicks. Plum accepted the move just fine, and settled back down on the golf balls she'd be sitting on inside the crate. This morning in the wee hours, I snuck out and replaced the golf balls with chicks. She seems to have accepted them so far, they slid under her, she fluffed up and chirruped a bit, and 2 hours later, is still on them. So, assuming all goes well and she accepts them, I have 2 questions:

1. When do I let them out of the dog crate?

2. Do I need to put supplemental food out for the chicks - chick mash - and their waterer, or will she take care of all their food needs?

Thanks!
Proud Chicken Grandma

 

[rungirl]

I assume that you have food and water in the crate for her. Put a chick waterer in the crate and some chick starter/grower. Mama can eat that also. I'd give them a day or two to make sure everyone is bonded well and then open the door. She'll take them out when she's ready and she'll likely fight off any hens that try to come into the crate. After she ventures out with the chicks, leave the crate door open so she can bring her chicks back to the nest to bed down for the night. I always do a head count of the chicks under her at night because sometimes she'll lose one and not realize it. Then I have to go on a chick hunt, listening for chirping lost babies. Apparently broodies can't count very well.


LIsa