Kitten Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 I have a flock of 8 hens some hybrids and some bantams. One of my bantams has been broody for 6 weeks now do impulsively I decided to buy some eggs to put underneath her. So now with 19 days til hatching I've started worrying about it. I've read various posts but wanted more opinions about raising the chicks as part of the flock ( ie not removing her to a different box at all just leaving her in the nesting box of the cube) and also will the chicks be ok in the cube. I will place food and water in there for them and prob remove the bars for the first week of live. Am I crazy to think they will be ok? Will the others attack her? The broody mummy is vicious when I try to remove eggs from beneath her!! Will the chicks be ok on the cube surface with paper and sawdust down? Will they fall out of the ladder? Advise please, I can get a rabbit hutch if need be but I didn't really want to seperately them from the flock and then have problems with reintroduction later on. Thoughts? Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 I wouldn't risk it my broodys always get moved to separate houses as the other girls can become quite nasty to the broody and even try and kill the chicks plus they will need separate food leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitten Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 I wouldn't risk it my broodys always get moved to separate houses as the other girls can become quite nasty to the broody and even try and kill the chicks plus they will need separate food leanne That was my worry. Can you advise me if I put broody in a rabbit hutch next to the cube run when would I re introduce her and chicks to the flock? When would they be able to manage the ramp with the rest. The chicks are maran and the broody is a wyndotte bantam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 they're best in a separate run and house even if the big girls are ok with the chicks the broody will be constantly on the defence and will end up aggravating the rest of the flock. plus the chicks need to be on chick crumb then growers until they are at least 18 weeks old with the older girls will eat in preference to their own feed. you can let the all free range together if you trust the older girls. which is what I do with my broodies and chicks from about a week old I find it make for a more confident chick/grower and it has made the intros into the main groups a lot easier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stacey30 Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Hello, I've raised 2 lots of chicks in the past and have always separated the broody In a different house/cage. I found my eggs were down as the broody made such a fuss when a hen wanted to lay next to her in the box. I find its best to keep all chickens in view of each other and possibly if you can use a run when they are A few weeks old so everyone can get used to each other. My chicks have been at the end of the pecking order but they are much more confident now and know if they want treats to be quick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitten Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 Oh dear I really didn't think this through. Ok I could buy an ark (triangle shaped) coop/rabbit hutch and that should keep all four (if all three eggs hatch) for that long. I don't have much space but I do have a wood chipped area at the end of the cube run. So the rest of the flock can see chicks but not get at them. They could fr seperately at first then together then move into the cube and run once large enough. Do you think that would work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 I maybe mistaken but did you say your hen had been broody for six weeks? If so I certainly wouldn't let her hatch, as she will be quite weak after being broody for that long. When they go broody they lose condition as they don't eat or drink properly, after 9 wks of sitting she could be poorly. As you are not set up properly for a broody and chick, along with your other post where you don't have a plan for cockerels, I think you should wait until you are fully prepared, as otherwise you and your animals could well suffer - sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitten Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 Thank you. Will speak to my other half tonight and make a decision about removing eggs as we are only on day 2 today. My broody has been eating and drinking as I've been locking her out of the nest for the last few weeks. And I now have water and food in the cube with her. But I will bear all the advice I have been given in mind. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitten Posted August 7, 2013 Author Share Posted August 7, 2013 Hubby decided we will keep eggs under broody and see how we get on. I will candle them in a week before buying the house. Hoping that I can introduce the chicks and mother into flock earlier than 18 weeks as someone suggested. As the temporary house will be smaller than I like. Fingers crossed for a good healthy result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 . Hoping that I can introduce the chicks and mother into flock earlier than 18 weeks as someone suggested. mom will almost certainly have got fed up with the chicks before then most broodies leave the chicks around 6-8 weeks old through I've had a speckled Sussex stay with them to about 14/15 weeks old and I think the then growers pushed her out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 As SJP said you will not be able to keep mum with the chicks much beyond 8wks tops, please do keep a very close eye on mum as 9 wks brooding will be very hard on her. You may find she will give up brooding after sitting already, for such a long time without a hatch, they do this in a form of self preservation to avoid sitting forever on eggs that are none fertile. IMHO you would be better off waiting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitten Posted August 8, 2013 Author Share Posted August 8, 2013 Thank you all for advise it's invaluable. Pleased that I won't need to keep mum in temporary home for too long. I have moved water and food into the cube with her and she appears to be eating. I'm also sprinkling corn and the odd titbits next to her and she's eating them thankfully. Yesterday she free ranged for 5mi s and seemed in good spirits. Watching them all very closely. I'm a full time mum with kids playing out in garden every day so I'm out thre watching them loads at the moment. Still trying to figure out how to house mum and chicks comfortably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted August 8, 2013 Share Posted August 8, 2013 You can let her out for longer, the eggs will be fine for 20-30mins, mum certainly needs longer than 5 mins to eat, drink, poo and dust bath, the latter is important to keep off mites, which broodies, especially one sitting for as long as yours, are susceptible to. When you get your accommodation for the chicks, remember the growers will need to be in it until they are around 18wks old, so that they will be strong enough to cope in joining the flock, they will get picked on. I think you said you are hatching marans, which are LF, they will be big and will need a decent amount of run space to thrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted August 8, 2013 Share Posted August 8, 2013 Farm and Pet Place do metal cages that store flat when not in use, they also do small wooden square houses that fit on to the metal cage. The metal cages are 4ft by 4 ft, I have three growers in there at the moment, you will definately need something bigger than an arc for marans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitten Posted August 8, 2013 Author Share Posted August 8, 2013 Farm and Pet Place do metal cages that store flat when not in use, they also do small wooden square houses that fit on to the metal cage. The metal cages are 4ft by 4 ft, I have three growers in there at the moment, you will definately need something bigger than an arc for marans. Nk you for advice, I've found the little wooden houses £32, think that's what you are referring too but I can't see the fold away cages. Can you advise me further on where to find the cage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 I had a look last night and found the little houses but not the metal cages. I was only looking you understand Not thinking of buying or hatching any more Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 I've just looked too Couldn't find the runs.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 have a look in pets-small animals -houses and runs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 I have just found them in small animal houses and runs. They are about £50.00 but do come in really handy as they store flat when not in use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 Is it the Sandford one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 If its the wooden house and runs I think the house is fine I use them for broodys but the chicks go straight through the run gaps and I think it depends on the chickens you have to what age you introduce mum and growers back ive had mums take 8 week olds back to the main coop and be fine leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 Yes it is the Sandford. I put some old rabbit run panels around the outside to keep the chicks in and attached them with plastic cable ties that could be removed later. I suppose any small hole wire or weldmesh would do as long as it is attached tightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitten Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share Posted August 13, 2013 Well half way through our 21 day incubation. Broody hen and two eggs transferred to a seperately broody box (old rabbit hutch). One egg had a crack in it so we got rid of it so she is now just sitting on two eggs. Now waiting to see if eggs hatch and are ok before buying a second coop for chicks. Watch this space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
