Winter Chicks

[Angela Galashan]

I had a broody hen and set a dozen fertilized eggs under her to sit on. She hatched them, and I'm so excited but nervous about what to do next. I have raised chicks before but not with a mama. Do I need to move the chicks to the garage with a heat lamp and their chick starter feed? The coop is insulated, except the laying box that she is sitting in with the chicks tucked under her? The main part of the coop has a heat lamp in it but it's higher up near the roosting pole. It's a small coop for three hens about 4ft x ft with access to outside. I'm located in southern Ontario, Canada and the temp is about -2c. Any advice would be appreciated?

 

[igorsMistress]

Don’t take them from her. You should put out chick feed for mama and chicks. Is she brooding away from the rest of your flock or with them?

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

Chicks don't need a heat lamp if they have a mother. I put them in a plastic tote just like baby chicks except with no heater and replace it with the mother!

 

[igorsMistress]

If the chicks get cold they’ll go under her for warmth so they should be ok but you don’t want them eating layer food, too much calcium. If mama and chicks are with other flock members everyone should get chick food with oyster shell offered on the side for the layers. If not then don’t worry about it.

 

[theoldchick]

This is how I raise my winter chicks:

This is a puppy playpen. Put the mother hen in with the chicks. Add pine shavings, food and water. This set-up is in the garage with the door and windows closed. Bear in mind I live in South Carolina and the temps average 30 degrees F during the cold months. If the mother hen is not available I'll use the appropriate well-secured heat source. Note the blanket and tarp under the playpen.

 

[Angela Galashan]

Don’t take them from her. You should put out chick feed for mama and chicks. Is she brooding away from the rest of your flock or with them?

Thank you for the advice! The two other hens are in and out of the coop but don't really go where the mama hen is. She is in the nesting box that's built sticking off the side of the coop.

 

[Angela Galashan]

Oh, that's a great setup. My husband is bringing a massive plastic tote from work home in case we need to move them to the garage.

 

[Angela Galashan]

If the chicks get cold they’ll go under her for warmth so they should be ok but you don’t want them eating layer food, too much calcium. If mama and chicks are with other flock members everyone should get chick food with oyster shell offered on the side for the layers. If not then don’t worry about it.

Thank you! I will do that.

 

[Angela Galashan]

Chicks don't need a heat lamp if they have a mother. I put them in a plastic tote just like baby chicks except with no heater and replace it with the mother!

Ok, good to know. I thought Nature is best but other people were telling me that I would need to bring them in out of the cold. She is doing a great job! I just didn't know if I should move them all in with her.

 

[igorsMistress]

Definitely leave them with her. She will angry if you take them and they’ll be fine with her. If it was warm enough in the nest box to hatch then it’s plenty warm enough for the chicks. She’ll introduce them to the other gals and they’ll grow up in your flock which is so much easier all around than you separating and trying to introduce later.