When to release mama hen and chicks back into the flock?

[Thill93]

I have a hen who I gave 4 chicks to. She accepted them all just fine. Currently, she and the chicks are in a wire dog kennel inside the main coop, so they are still insight of the rest of the flock. The sides of the kennel is line with cardboard so the chicks cant get through the cracks. In their kennel they have a cardboard nest box, and their chick starter and water. The chicks are 5 days old. The rest of my flock consists of 15 adult hens. When should I let the mama and chicks out of the kennel to be with the rest? I am nervous another hen will hurt them, but I know mama will also protect them. Any advice welcome. Thanks!

 

[DobieLover]

I would let her out now. Just leave the door open to her crate and let her take the chicks out when she's ready.

Do you have chick starter/all flock type feed in the feeder for the entire flock? The chicks cannot eat layer feed and their mother will feed them whatever is in the main feeder. This is one of the reasons why I always recommend a flock be fed an all flock type of feed with oyster shell on the side for free choice feeding by the active layers.

 

[Thill93]

I would let her out now. Just leave the door open to her crate and let her take the chicks out when she's ready.

Do you have chick starter/all flock type feed in the feeder for the entire flock? The chicks cannot eat layer feed and their mother will feed them whatever is in the main feeder. This is one of the reasons why I always recommend a flock be fed and all flock type of feed with oyster shell on the side for free choice feeding by the active layers.

Thank you! I currently have lay feed in the main feeder, but I can change it out before I release them.

 

[Chicalina]

I like to wait until the chicks are about 2 weeks old ish. When they can run, fly and hide like ninjas and aren't so vulnerable. It ensures a better survival rate from older hens telling them off.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Agree with @DobieLover . We accidentally learned the sooner the better. I would have waited at least two weeks with our two recent mama-hatched chicks. But on about Day Three those little rascals found a way through a fence ond got themselves into Gen Pop with the rest of the flock, and the 2 co-parenting moms flew over to be with them. They continued to do this so we just opened a gate so the mothers did not have to fly over. At three weeks the chicks were weaned and a week later they were roosting in the big coop with the Aunties. So I say, the sooner the better.

 

[DobieLover]

I like to wait until the chicks are about 2 weeks old ish. When they can run, fly and hide like ninjas and aren't so vulnerable. It ensures a better survival rate from older hens telling them off.

Not once in 7 years and I don't know how many broods of chicks have I ever had any flock member injure a chick that was hatched or shipped here.
The broody hen babies get to leave the ward whenever their mother says. The shipped chicks have to wait until they're about 3 to 4 weeks old before I will begin integration. They are all raised in the coop in a maternity ward from the start.