Where?

[emmalemons]

Now I raise a new question: where do you guys put the baby chicks and broody hen? What do you build for them? I’m trying to come up with something on the internet on what I should build for my broody hen once the eggs hatch but nothing really seems to work. I was hoping to put it along side the bigger coop so that the mama can still be by the flock and after a couple weeks with her chicks in an enclosed area I would move her and her chicks with the flock. But I don’t know what the enclosure should be. Any suggestions? It would be much appreciated

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My hens raise their chicks with the flock from day one. I just block them in with feed and water the first day or so, so noone falls out of the lay box and can't figure out to get back under mum.

If you want separation, something as simple as a dog crate could suffice...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MT74YY/?tag=backy-20

And the you have it to use a s a hospital place or for transportation if needed.

Any sort of temporary fencing that will contain the family and exclude the elders is good to wrap around for pasture space. U posts (not T) are cheap and easy to add plastic or wire fencing to and easy to move as needed.

My whole flock gets chick starter or flock raiser with free choice oyster shell on the side for layers. The extra nutrients are not a problem for the flock the way "layer" would be for chicks. And feeding everyone separate is a pain.

Have you marked her eggs to make sure she isn't getting new ones added daily by other hens and causing a staggered hatch?

Good luck!

 

[emmalemons]

My hens raise their chicks with the flock from day one. I just block them in with feed and water the first day or so, so noone falls out of the lay box and can't figure out to get back under mum.

If you want separation, something as simple as a dog crate could suffice...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MT74YY/?tag=backy-20

And the you have it to use a s a hospital place or for transportation if needed.

Any sort of temporary fencing that will contain the family and exclude the elders is good to wrap around for pasture space. U posts (not T) are cheap and easy to add plastic or wire fencing to and easy to move as needed.

My whole flock gets chick starter or flock raiser with free choice oyster shell on the side for layers. The extra nutrients are not a problem for the flock the way "layer" would be for chicks. And feeding everyone separate is a pain.

Have you marked her eggs to make sure she isn't getting new ones added daily by other hens and causing a staggered hatch?

Good luck!

Thank you for the suggestions I didn’t really realize it would be okay to let the mama raise the chicks with the flock maybe I’ll try that. And yup I put x’s on her eggs

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thank you for the suggestions I didn’t really realize it would be okay to let the mama raise the chicks with the flock maybe I’ll try that. And yup I put x’s on her eggs

Everyone has different set ups and different flock dynamics. What works for some may not work for others.

I have lost a chick or two over the years on a cold morning that I didn't check soon enough that accidentally got out. I have since made sure the ledges to the lay box aren't to tall for them to get back in. Sometimes confusion might still be their demise.

Every broody and every hatch could differ from the last. So it's always a learning process that sometimes requires switching things up to roll with it.

But 100% ALL of my hens raise their babes with the flock.

I have had some teenage pullets think it was fun to harass a mum and babes... I don't tolerate any bully behavior in my flock and rehome or send them to freezer camp if they are relentless and don't get with the program quickly. Roosters (not cockerels) are most often NOT a problem. Though they will still call their hens to eat all the chicks feed... eventually they usually call the chicks to treats as well. Curiosity or a peck to say keep your distance or what have you is not the same as a relentless jerk who gets the mother so frazzled she is pecking all around at anything that moves including her chicks.