Broody hen, baby chicks, what now?

[hattifattner]

One of my chickens gets broody at least twice a year, and so when she got the look early in may, we decided to put her on some fertilised eggs for a friend who lost all his chooks to a fox. Anyway, baby chickens are today hatching so what do I do now. I presume in the wild the mummy chicken would provide for the babies. But what do I need to do - take the chicks away and keep them under lights; or just leave them in the run with stepmom? I really don't want to leave old broody knickers with her brood s I want her to start laying again as soon as possible.

leave them with her, they do well with their mum, they grow very fast.

do I have to provide chick crumbs and little dishes of water? I dont want to put food in the nesting box if i dont have to.

SHe is very agressive and puffed up like a gold ball at the moment - I presume the new babies hatched over night!

They will need heat if you are taking them away from her - so you will need a brooder of some type. I'd leave them with her - it's easier. You will need chick crumb and a shallow drinker. A dish with marbles/stones will do. Remove any eggs that aren't hatching within next 24 hours- she'll then get off the nest and show the chicks how to feed. Is she in with your other hens?

If she's in the nesting box, I think she would be best moved to her own quarters. An old rabbit hutch, cat box, dog kennel - something that can open into a small, secure and covered run (we lost a chick to a magpie this year). The danger with leaving them in the nesting box is that if a chick falls out it won't be able to climb back in to get under Mum - they will amaze you with how quickly they move around. They'd be better with Mum - less work for you!!!

SHe came out today with little ones, so they were both hopping around the coop and peeping. :) Only 2 out of 6 made it. 3 taken ? by rats, and 1 died half in/half out his shell.

My kids have named them Draco (malfoy) and Ron (weasley).