Pullet and broody mum

[margaretinireland]

I have a hen which has gone broody again (last time in March when she had two chicks). One chick survived and is now 13 weeks old and I am 99% sure she is a hen. She sticks like glue to her mum, but now that mum is broody again, she is finding it hard to spend time with the main flock. Henry the cock has chased her a few times but mum protected her. Now Mum is sitting on three eggs, the chick doesn't want to leave her side (upsets mum). Do I put her in with the main crowd at night and hope she breaks the attachment to mum? or do I take pity and leave her with mum in the broody coop until the new chicks hatch? Our chickens free range around the garden and visit the field opposite the house every morning, so the chick has been used to roaming around. The broody coup has an outside section where the chick can scratch, but I am reluctant to restrict her after growing up free range. This is worse than bringing up kids!!! Grateful for anyone advice!

 

[chrismahon]

Hi Margaret. You need to separate them as soon as. the chick will need to be kept near the flock but isolated for a week or so so stand a better chance of integration. Henry may think the chick is a cockerel and they know before we do. So best separate from him until you are sure it is a hen.

 

[Marigold]

Is there another youngster or other placid low-ranking girl in your flock, that might perhaps become a friend to the chick if you kept them together in a separate run for a week or two, before introducing them as a pair to the main flock? 13 weeks is very young to try to integrate a single chick with a flock of adults, and I think she will be badly bullied. Integrating one single adult is difficult enough, but I've found that, once they've spent a week or two together with another burd, they do tend to pal up and give each other support when they meet the flock. You could then introduce them after dark into the coop, in the usual way, and both of them will then have to make their way within the flock. If the older bird has been separated for a week or two, she will count as a newcomer as well, and you may well find they will support each other in the face of the 'enemy'! You may have to net off an enclosure in your run for both of them until things settle down a bit, or at least give them some time out from the others, to eat and rest in peace, during the first day or so, but this can be behind netting and within sight of the big girls. Places to hide within the run, and as much space as possible for escaping, are also a big help. How big is your run, in relation to the number of adults you have in it?
An alternative approach, as she is already part of the flock even if not on her own, is to just do as you say and try putting her in with the others and watch how she gets on, being ready to intervene if any blood is shed. I agree with Chris that you do need to separate her before the eggs hatch as her Mum won't want her around then.

 

[margaretinireland]

Thanks for speedy reply - you have both confirmed I need to do something rather than leave the chick with mum. The only run I have is for mum and baby chicks once they have hatched. Buffy (mum) and Cheepie (the chick) are in there. The others all free range around the house, we have about two thirds of an acre so they have plenty of space to roam around in. They all usually roost in a chicken shed and the chick has been used to going in with them all at night. (We have Henry the cock and four hens and 13 week chick). Buffy is sitting on three eggs, so keeping finger crossed they will hatch OK. I think the idea of putting Cheepie with another hen might work if I fence off a bit of an extension to the broody coop and put one of them in there with her. Don't think Henry will take kindly to this but it's worth try. Will have a go tomorrow, fingers crossed for me please!

 

[Marigold]

They certainly have plenty of space, I didn't know thy had all that lovely land o range on. Overcrowding in too small a run, and nowhere to get away from bullies, is the usual root of integration problems, so with luck all will be well, especially as the chick has been used to roosting with them at night. Give it a try, put her in with them overnight and see what happens. So long as no blood is being shed, she should be OK if somewhat chased for a while.