When will Mom and Chicks Leave the Nest?

[Devyn Nagy]

I just introduced a couple of chicks to a broody hen on Monday. I've never done this before, so I'm wondering how long it will be before the hen takes the little ones outside of the coop. And once they leave will she take them back in at night?

 

[NatJ]

I just introduced a couple of chicks to a broody hen on Monday. I've never done this before, so I'm wondering how long it will be before the hen takes the little ones outside of the coop. And once they leave will she take them back in at night?

It often takes the hen a day or so, before she is ready to get off the nest and go anywhere. If you put food & water near the nest, the chicks will pop out to eat and drink and go back under her to get warm again.

For her to actually leave the coop, maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, most likely sometime in between. It depends on the hen. Yes, she will typically take the chicks back in at night.

When a hen hatches eggs, it is good that she waits for the slower ones to hatch before she comes off the nest with the first ones. When you give her chicks, you know there will not be any hatching later, but the hen still needs a certain amount of time to switch modes from "sitting" to "moving around with chicks."