When to move chicks to coop, Mama is protective.

[PNWChickenMama]

So, we gave our broody hen week-old chicks several weeks ago and she’s doing great mothering them. Due to some scuffles, we moved her and the chicks to a brooder after a couple days. They’re just in there at night, and during the day free range with the other 3 hens.

The chicks will be 6 weeks old tomorrow, so I’d like to move everyone to the coop at night soon. My issues are that she’s still a little territorial towards 2 hens with the chicks, so I’m worried someone won’t make it through the night in the coop, lol. Also, when it starts to get dark she sits on the babies at the door to the workshop (where the brooder is) waiting for us to open it so they can go in. Zero interest in going to the coop.

She IS showing signs of letting them go further from her every day, so do I wait until she completely lets them go, or maybe should I put her in the coop at night without the babies for a couple days to completely break her before adding the chicks to the coop this weekend? Or?

Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

IMO, it will be harder to integrate the chicks into an existing flock without her protection so I'd do it now. She sits by the other door because that is where they have slept lately.

 

[Brahmachicken240]

Why not move the mother hen and her chicks to the coop at the same time ?
She’s only protecting them from the other hens. It would be easier on the chicks to be moved in with the mother hen.

 

[PNWChickenMama]

IMO, it will be harder to integrate the chicks into an existing flock without her protection so I'd do it now. She sits by the other door because that is where they have slept lately.

So put them all in the coop together at night?

 

[PNWChickenMama]

Why not move the mother hen and her chicks to the coop at the same time ?
She’s only protecting them from the other hens. It would be easier on the chicks to be moved in with the mother hen.

I just wasn't sure if there'd be fighting if I put her and the babies in. It's a smaller (prefab) coop, but they only use it to sleep. When 4 were in there, they all smoosh together on one bar, lol.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They won't fight at night because they can't see. She won't smoosh onto the bar because she'll be sleeping in a nest or on the floor with the chicks.
Yes, put them all in there at night.
Is the coop close enough to the ground that the chicks can get in if she leads them there?
You'll likely need a bigger coop soon.

 

[PNWChickenMama]

They won't fight at night because they can't see. She won't smoosh onto the bar because she'll be sleeping in a nest or on the floor with the chicks.
Yes, put them all in there at night.
Is the coop close enough to the ground that the chicks can get in if she leads them there?
You'll likely need a bigger coop soon.

The roosting area is probably 2 feet off the ground. They've already been flying higher than that around the yard to get up on my raised garden bed, lol.

 

[PNWChickenMama]

So the decision was made FOR me!

By the time I got out back tonight, Mama was already up in the coop with two of the chicks under her, and the three other big hens we inside as well. The poor black copper maran baby was still outside, though, running circles around the coop, not the smartest. When I came out, she ran right to me and I put her in with everyone else.

So glad to pack up the brooder!

Thanks everyone!