Will chicks be okay with Mama hen outdoors in the cold???

[Chickennewbie123]

The broody will more likely protect the chicks, but keep a GOOD eye on them. Sometimes the other hens will pick on the new chicks, which sometimes they kill them. If you had a rooster older than a year he would protect them. The broody hen will keep them warm. I always keep the chicks inside until they get all their feathers and I will still bring them inside at night. But sence you have a broody then they should be fine but on the nights below 15 it’s a great idea to bring them inside.

Thank you!

 

[Duckfarmer1]

No. Rooster?

Oh, sorry..I totally didn’t see the edit!

 

[Duckfarmer1]

It said she got the eggs from a friend in the beginning

Opps, totally missed that

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That is one of the most sweetest things I’ve ever heard in my life!

It took my breath away. She had been out in the field foraging with her flock mates. As soon as she saw the chicks in the crate she came running.
I've not looked at chickens quite the same since.
I learned a long time ago that a chicken can remember and recognize as many as 100 flock mates. Imagine how they feel about their chicks.
Chickens develop lifelong bonds with their flock. That's why a lone hen or rooster feels so bad when all their flock mates are killed.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

It took my breath away. She had been out in the field foraging with her flock mates. As soon as she saw the chicks in the crate she came running.
I've not looked at chickens quite the same since.
I learned a long time ago that a chicken can remember and recognize as many as 100 flock mates. Imagine how they feel about their chicks. That's why a lone hen or rooster feels so bad when all their flock mates are killed.

 

[Susan Barrett]

I don’t know why you think they are fertile, but unless one your hens is actually a rooster and you’re not aware, your hen is just broody. There really is no way...that I am aware...I could be wrong..but, pretty sure you need a rooster, or a visitor rooster for them to be fertile. If that’s the case, then it’s a different story.

I can't believe how many people don't read entire posts before responding. She said she GOT fertile eggs and put them under her broody hen. Than she repeated it again in the thread when several people asked how she had fertile eggs with no rooster.
In response to her original post. You need not do a thing other than making sure there's plenty of chick starter food and fresh water available at all times. If you offer treats also make sure you provide them with chick grit which is very important for them to digest anything other than chick food. Mama hen will take care of everything else, no matter how cold it gets. I have always insulated outside my egg boxes with bails of straw when I had a broody with chicks in the winter to give extra warmth. Make sure there's also plenty of bedding inside the boxes and coop. Other than that just enjoy watching her with those new babies.

 

[DobieLover]

I can't believe how many people don't read entire posts before responding. She said she GOT fertile eggs and put them under her broody hen. Than she repeated it again in the thread when several people asked how she had fertile eggs with no rooster.
In response to her original post. You need not do a thing other than making sure there's plenty of chick starter food and fresh water available at all times. If you offer treats also make sure you provide them with chick grit which is very important for them to digest anything other than chick food. Mama hen will take care of everything else, no matter how cold it gets. I have always insulated outside my egg boxes with bails of straw when I had a broody with chicks in the winter to give extra warmth. Make sure there's also plenty of bedding inside the boxes and coop. Other than that just enjoy watching her with those new babies.

One other piece of information you need to read on these threads is the posting date.
The chicks featured in this thread are all now 2 years old...

 

[kalikochick]

if your broody in in the coop with the other hens, i would switch the feed to chick starter non-medicated. the chicks need this and it will not harm the older chickens.
make sure they have a chick waterer. something they cant fall in and drown.
the mother hen will keep them warm, dont worry about that.
i hope you get some chicks! how many did you sit under your broody?

I know this is an older thread. But I have a broody hen that hatched 11 chicks 2 and a 1/2 weeks ago at the beginning of September. Our temps are starting to drop into the 40s at night and the chicks are getting bigger. Not all of them are fully under her as 11 is a lot. They will huddle up against her though. She's done an amazing job with them, but should I worry about them staying warm at this point? I have a wire divided coop with a "human" side. There is a sealed oil heater that I could use to keep the temp of the coop up. Should I do that or let them stay natural? I'm guessing they rotate in and out from under her during the night. They will be a full three weeks on this Friday.

 

[DobieLover]

should I worry about them staying warm at this point?

No. Sounds like they are just fine.

let them stay natural?

Yes.
They will feather out faster in cooler weather.

If it makes you feel any better I had 1.5 week old chicks zipping around in their brooder built into the coop when the morning temp was 23F. This was over 3 years ago and they are all still alive to tell the tale.

 

[Cecelia Deavours Campbell]

I don’t know why you think they are fertile, but unless one your hens is actually a rooster and you’re not aware, your hen is just broody. There really is no way...that I am aware...I could be wrong..but, pretty sure you need a rooster, or a visitor rooster for them to be fertile. If that’s the case, then it’s a different story.

Because she said she got eggs fertile from somewhere else.