Broodies raising chicks together

[jackie57]

Hi
Has anyone had any experience of keeping broodies together to raise their chicks. I have four broodies sitting at present, one is separated in her own run (hatching French black copper marans), but the other three (hatching cream legbars) are also removed from the main hen house, and are sitting together in an adjoining shed. This has a pophole and an enclosed grass run, the shed measures six by four. I'm not sure whether to divide the shed internally, leave them alone, as they have all been sitting quite happily in nest box's, on the floor next to each other,or get out the hammer and nails and try to construct temporary accommodation. The first to hatch will be the legbars this week-end. We do have a couple of pens inside in a workshop, but I would rather they had outdoor access to fresh air and sunshine. Has anyone had experience of hens happily raising their broods together.

 

[jackie57]

Hi
Just to follow up on previous post. Yes, all three broodies are sharing the same shed, all with separate nest box's. They hatched thirteen out of twenty cream legbars, seven male and six female. All the mums are quite tolerant of the others chicks, though to start with there were quite a few sharp pecks to send wandering youngsters back to their own mothers. There is still a top chicken in this nursery, the same pecking order as when they were in the large flock , no damage done and no blood spilt! The Orpington who was sitting on Maran eggs however, decided to spend more and more time in the last few days away from eggs ( they were due to hatch today ) I have now put them in an incubator, though I don't hold out much hope, I did find the other day however that she had trodden on one egg and completely cracked it,inside there was a fully formed chick, so here's hoping!

 

[chrismahon]

This is new ground for me Jackie57. Our few broodies have been kept in completely separate units which are rodent proof and have a run. I prefer artificial incubation now having decided that hatching with a broody is too risky and losses too high. The chicks develop without flock hierarchy and are rather inept at integration. They also have a slower initial growth rate but do catch up eventually. Mind you we have all the electricity loss precautions in place. Without them a broody is probably better.