Broody raising chicks. Please help

[Missmackworth]

Hello, I’m brand new to a broody raising chicks and feel really lost on what to do next. I’m trying to find someone experienced so I can ask some questions. Specifically, we have her in our shed that’s away from the coop.. with her babies.. but we are using a rabbits cage as her safe place. When do we open the door & let her take them in/ out as she pleases, also we removed her from the coop because we have violent hens in our flock, unfortunately the mom silkie is at the bottom of our pecking order so I don’t trust she will truly keep them safe… but if I keep them separated I’ll have to reintroduce.. I’m just lost on best practices moving forward

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I would get rid of the mean girls. You could separate them while you reintegrate her and then try adding them back after she and the chicks are more comfortable/bigger.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I second the above post...I will not keep bullies in my flock. Things are so much smoother when everyone gets along. I've had many broodies and they always hatch in the coop with the flock, I've never had any issues. Have you thought about making an area for momma and chicks within the run? That way everyone can see her and the littles and start to get used to them. Is you run predator proof?

 

[Missmackworth]

I second the above post...I will not keep bullies in my flock. Things are so much smoother when everyone gets along. I've had many broodies and they always hatch in the coop with the flock, I've never had any issues. Have you thought about making an area for momma and chicks within the run? That way everyone can see her and the littles and start to get used to them. Is you run predator proof?

We free range, no run. I’m not willing to get rid of the jerk bully hen as she’s the “head hen” and is really only violent when integrating new birds. We’ve raised 5 sets and she’s just very nasty during the adjustment period. Other than that she just gives bites to assert her position within the flock. Based on her behavior during interrogation is where my concern comes in first raising the chicks in the coop. Especially since the mom is already easily bullied and at the bottom of the pecking order

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

We free range, no run. I’m not willing to get rid of the jerk bully hen as she’s the “head hen” and is really only violent when integrating new birds. We’ve raised 5 sets and she’s just very nasty during the adjustment period. Other than that she just gives bites to assert her position within the flock. Based on her behavior during interrogation is where my concern comes in first raising the chicks in the coop. Especially since the mom is already easily bullied and at the bottom of the pecking order

I don’t really see a good solution then unless you can figure out a way to keep the broody and her chicks in a look-no-touch situation near the rest of the flock. Last time I tried to re-integrate a bottom of the pecking order broody and her chicks into the flock it went so poorly I ended up giving up. And my boss hen wasn't a bitch lol