When to take chicks from mom

[Egghead_Jr]

I let them be raised with the flock. It's the best thing about a broody in my book. She is the brooder and integrates the chicks into the flock. You don't have to do anything other than help them into the coop at night until they are large enough to navigate the ramp or whatever obstacle.

 

[ChikenChik]

You know I am appreciative of those who are trying to TEACH me. I am definitely still learning. and REALLY appreciate those being helpful. But seriously being rude and mean and DEMEANING does not help. I actually planned on having the other coop ready before the chicks hatched. But guess what SHIT HAPPENS! Perhaps before judging someone else realize that you do NOT know what is going on in their life. I thought letting her sit on a few eggs was better because last fall I had two broody hens(she was one of them) and breaking their brood was HELL on them and me.

It's a valid concern... things do go wrong. There is always risk, and some people can't take that risk... for whatever reason.

I realize we all have reason we do what we do. Whether I agree or not, I TRY not to be too judgey as it simply doesn't help.

Is your mama able to come out of the kennel to poo? Mama's are actually amazing protectors. My Silkies raise their chicks among my large fowl flock... many are missing front neck feathers from her opening up a can of crazy ma on them.

Thank you for not judging! I take her out of the kennel every day to eat drink and poop. She has food and water available 24 hours but I want to make sure she gets what she needs. I am in the process of building a bigger coop(mine is not too small but the run could be bigger) but life happens and it has gotten pushed back. I seriously was about ready to just quit this group because of some of the judging...but I learn a lot from it so I am going a take a deep breath and realize some people just don't know and I should not judge them either. I actually thought I was doing a good thing getting her eggs because last fall she was broody as well and I did EVERYTHING I could to break her brood and it was HELL on her and me. But again thank you for the help. I may try to introduce them and keep them with the flock I am just a bit scared. I don't want anything to happen to her or the chicks. Maybe I will keep them in the tractor during the day and put them back in the crate at night for a few days or something.

 

[ChikenChik]

I let them be raised with the flock. It's the best thing about a broody in my book. She is the brooder and integrates the chicks into the flock. You don't have to do anything other than help them into the coop at night until they are large enough to navigate the ramp or whatever obstacle.

So will she let me help them? She is so grouchy with her eggs I wasn't sure she would let me get near them once they were born lol

 

[Teila]

Just a suggestion; but I set up this 'hutch and run' for my broody quite cheaply and quickly. Her and the chicks were safe at night locked inside the hutch but still had room to move during the day:

 

[lazy gardener]

My apology if I came across as "judging you" instead of being helpful. When I had a broody, she was a wimp. I trained the chicks to a cat carrier and used that to transport them back and forth from their night time space in the coop to their day time accomodations in a tractor. Mama when where ever chicks and food was. After a few days, chicks and Mama were trained to go from coop to tractor in morning/evening without the cat carrier.

 

[ChikenChik]

Just a suggestion; but I set up this 'hutch and run' for my broody quite cheaply and quickly. Her and the chicks were safe at night locked inside the hutch but still had room to move during the day:

View attachment 1390164 View attachment 1390165

hmm that is good idea! I actually have lots of rabbit hidey holes already I could stick inside the dog crate for protection and then put that inside my little chicken tractor I made from a kids play yard and it would not cost me anything. Thank you so much for the CONSTRUCTIVE advice!

 

[ChikenChik]

My apology if I came across as "judging you" instead of being helpful. When I had a broody, she was a wimp. I trained the chicks to a cat carrier and used that to transport them back and forth from their night time space in the coop to their day time accomodations in a tractor. Mama when where ever chicks and food was. After a few days, chicks and Mama were trained to go from coop to tractor in morning/evening without the cat carrier.

My broody is not a wimp for sure! I think I will try to keep them together. I just need help to figure out how. That was my first idea but then things happened and I didn't get the big coop finished. So after some research I thought it would be ok to just raise the chicks myself so they would be safe. That is my main concern

 

[Golden Brahma 64]

You know I am appreciative of those who are trying to TEACH me. I am definitely still learning. and REALLY appreciate those being helpful. But seriously being rude and mean and DEMEANING does not help. I actually planned on having the other coop ready before the chicks hatched. But guess what SHIT HAPPENS! Perhaps before judging someone else realize that you do NOT know what is going on in their life. I thought letting her sit on a few eggs was better because last fall I had two broody hens(she was one of them) and breaking their brood was HELL on them and me.

Thank you for not judging! I take her out of the kennel every day to eat drink and poop. She has food and water available 24 hours but I want to make sure she gets what she needs. I am in the process of building a bigger coop(mine is not too small but the run could be bigger) but life happens and it has gotten pushed back. I seriously was about ready to just quit this group because of some of the judging...but I learn a lot from it so I am going a take a deep breath and realize some people just don't know and I should not judge them either. I actually thought I was doing a good thing getting her eggs because last fall she was broody as well and I did EVERYTHING I could to break her brood and it was HELL on her and me. But again thank you for the help. I may try to introduce them and keep them with the flock I am just a bit scared. I don't want anything to happen to her or the chicks. Maybe I will keep them in the tractor during the day and put them back in the crate at night for a few days or something.

I’m sorry if my posts came out that way
Raising the chicks with the flock will be more beneficial for them as there will be no pecking order and mama should protect them with her life. If your broody hen is a ‘whimp’ And doesn’t protect her chicks than that’s a different story. From what you say she’s not, I would try my best to keep her with them if I were you.

 

[Kmd1985]

Is there any update to this? I have 2 broody hens sitting on eggs in 2 nesting boxes. Neither box is on the floor. I just checked and we have a baby on her way out of the egg! The mamas are protective but I'm still afraid the other chickens will harm them or a wayward snake will find his way in I'm a worrier I have 2 large wire crates with hardware cloth affixed that I can put each mama and baby in and still leave them with the flock. Will that work for mamas and babies once they hatch? Will it stress mama to move once babies here? I'd love to hear what you did and if it worked!

 

[Shorty22366]

I have 4 broody Silkies. These are my first chicks. They should hatch on June 18th. I am planning on letting mama do all the raising. I will keep a watch(very close watch) on them and if I need to I will rescue them. My Silkie rooster goes in boxes and sits on them while mama takes a break to eat and poop. I think Ben(my roo) will love all the babies. I will let you know how it goes. Just do what is best for you and like I think it is better for her to introduce them than me trying to do it. Good luck. I pray all goes great for you.