Caring For Chicks: Post-Hatching Guide For New Owners

Broody hens make excellent mothers and can hatch and raise chicks with minimal intervention. After the chicks hatch, the mother hen will teach them to eat and drink, protect them from harm, and keep them warm. The hen will care for the chicks for around 5-8 weeks before returning to the flock. During this time, it is important to ensure that the chicks have access to food and water. Some breeders prefer to feed the hen and chicks the same feed, such as a high-protein unmedicated chick grain mash. Once the chicks reach 8-16 weeks, they are considered growers and should be offered grower crumbles, green feed, probiotics, and vitamins.

Keep the mother hen and chicks together in a safe space

Keeping the mother hen and chicks together in a safe space is important for several reasons. Firstly, the mother hen will instinctively know how to care for her chicks, from maintaining the right humidity and temperature to teaching them how to eat and drink. Secondly, the hen will protect the chicks from any potential harm, including flock mates that might attack them.

You can create a safe space for the mother hen and her chicks by setting up a brooding pen or enclosure. This will provide them with some privacy and separation from the rest of the flock. If you decide to keep them within the flock, ensure they are in a visible spot so the flock doesn't 'forget' them, making it harder to reintroduce them later.

If you choose to move the mother hen and her chicks to a new location, do so at night when she is calmer, and have the new nest ready with her eggs. Be cautious, as she may peck or bite during this transition. You can create a comfortable space by providing a brooder box within the brooding pen, ensuring the feeder and water are low enough for the chicks to reach, and securely fastened so the mother hen doesn't knock them over.

The mother hen will care for her chicks until they grow their first set of adult feathers, at which point she will naturally want to rejoin the flock. You can either let her do so and continue raising the chicks yourself, or wait until the chicks are old enough to join the flock as well.

Provide a brooder box with food and water at chick height

When a mother hen hatches her chicks, she will take care of them until they grow their first set of adult feathers. During this time, she will teach them to eat and drink, and keep them safe from harm.

To support the mother hen in her care, it is important to provide her with the necessary resources. This includes a brooder box, also known as a brooding pen, with food and water at chick height. The brooder box should be set up within her brooding pen, providing her with a private space to raise her chicks. It is important to ensure that the feeder and water are low enough to the ground so that the chicks can easily reach them. They should also be securely fastened to prevent the mother hen from knocking them over.

The brooder box allows the mother hen to raise her chicks within a flock setting, although it can be tricky compared to a private brooding pen. In a flock setting, it is challenging to identify which eggs the mother hen is supposed to incubate, as other hens may lay their eggs in her nesting box. Additionally, there is a risk of other hens attacking the mother hen and her chicks.

Therefore, it is crucial to carefully monitor the behaviour of the other hens towards the mother hen and her chicks during the first few days. If any signs of hostility emerge, it is recommended to move them to a separate enclosure to ensure their safety.

Monitor the hen and her chicks with the rest of the flock

Once the chicks have hatched, the mother hen will care for them until they grow their first set of adult feathers. During this time, the hen will teach the chicks to eat and drink, and she will keep them safe from harm.

You can allow the hen to raise her chicks within a flock setting, but it is a little more tricky compared to setting up a private brooding pen for her. If you decide to keep the hen and her chicks with the rest of the flock, you should carefully monitor the behaviour of the other hens towards the mother hen and her new chicks for the first few days. If there are any signs of hostility from the flock members, or if the mother hen is not adequately protecting the chicks, they should all be moved to a separate enclosure.

If you decide to keep the hen and her chicks with the rest of the flock, you should make sure that they are visible to the other members of the flock so that they do not 'forget' them and make it hard to reintroduce them later. You should wait until all the eggs have hatched, and then go ahead and move the hen and her chicks to their new location, either with the flock or separate.

If you decide to keep the hen and her chicks separate from the flock, you will need to make her a new area and provide her with food and water each day. You may also need to remove new eggs from other hens that are laid in her nest each day.

Offer chick crumbles and age-appropriate grower crumbles

It is important to provide the right nutrition for chicks after they hatch. Offer chick crumbles to the chicks, in addition to giving the hen a daily, age-appropriate ration of feed. Chick crumbles are a great source of nutrition for newly hatched chicks. They are small, easy-to-eat pieces that provide the chicks with the energy and nutrients they need to grow and develop.

The mother hen will teach the chicks to eat and drink, and it is important to ensure that the feeder and water in the brooding pen are low enough to the ground so that the chicks can reach them. The feeders and waterers should also be fastened securely so that the mother hen does not knock them over while teaching her chicks.

Some breeders prefer to feed the hen and the chicks the same feed, such as a high-protein, unmedicated chick grain mash, and this is fine too. The hen will know what is best for her and her chicks, so don't stress if she offers small grains to the chicks or if you spot her eating chick crumbles. Trust that she knows what she is doing.

Once the chicks have passed the initial chick care phase, continue to offer age-appropriate grower crumbles for chicks aged 8-16 weeks. At this stage, in addition to grower crumbles, the chicks will also need plenty of green feed, probiotics, and vitamins. Grower crumbles are formulated to meet the nutritional needs of growing chicks, ensuring they receive the necessary protein, vitamins, and minerals for healthy development.

The hen will care for the chicks for around 5-8 weeks before returning to the flock. Each hen is different, and you may notice that she becomes slightly aggressive towards the chicks when she feels they are ready to become more independent. At this point, you can either let the mother hen rejoin the flock or keep her with the chicks until they are old enough to join the flock as well.

Reintroduce the mother hen to the flock when chicks are old enough

When it comes to reintroducing a mother hen to the flock, timing is crucial. Hens are usually ready to rejoin the flock when they start showing signs of aggression towards their chicks, indicating that they want their space. This typically happens around 5 to 8 weeks after the chicks have hatched, but the exact timing varies depending on the hen. During this period, the mother hen will teach the chicks to eat and drink, protect them from harm, and keep them warm.

Before reintroducing the mother hen, it is important to ensure that the chicks are old enough and big enough to avoid being harmed by the other hens. It is recommended to keep the chicks separate from the adult birds until they are around 16 weeks old. Additionally, make sure the flock has not forgotten about the mother hen's existence, as this can make reintegration more challenging. Keep them within sight of each other to prevent this issue.

When you are ready to reintroduce the mother hen and her chicks to the flock, there are a few strategies you can employ to facilitate a smooth transition:

• Provide a spacious area: Ensure that the enclosure is large enough to accommodate the mother hen, her chicks, and the rest of the flock comfortably. This will help reduce territorial behaviour and aggression.
• Monitor behaviour: Keep a close eye on the behaviour of the flock towards the mother hen and her chicks for the first few days. If there are any signs of hostility or bullying, separate them and gradually reintroduce them over time.
• Divide attention: Adding, removing, or rearranging items in the enclosure can help distract the flock and reduce their focus on the mother hen and her chicks. This can alleviate potential aggression and make the transition smoother.
• Use a divider: Consider using a divider to separate the mother hen and her chicks from the flock initially. This allows them to gradually adjust to each other's presence and can help prevent confrontations.
• Take precautions: If there is a history of bullying within the flock, take steps to address it before reintroducing the mother hen. Identify the bully and separate them from the flock temporarily to improve socialisation and reduce aggression.

Frequently asked questions