I've had chickens for 3 years, hatched baby chicks in the incubator last year for the first time. I kept these in a brooder at first, then moved them to a different pen until they were 18 weeks and could be joined with the older chickens and eat the layer food.
What do you do with the broody hen and the baby chicks she hatches out? I read that some people move them out to a separate coop, some leave them in the main coop if the older ones treat them "niceley". (I was planning on moving them into the second coop.)
Do you provide chick raising food and put the food for the mother up higher where the baby chicks can't reach it? Will the mother eat the baby's food?
What do baby chicks eat when people leave them with the adult chickens in one coop? I use layer pellets. Does the broody hen (this is my first broody one - a silky) feed them in some way?
I am confused about the feeding part of it all. If anybody could explain it to me that would be great!
Also, what are my chances of the "first-time mom" knowing what to do with her baby chicks? How will I know when to intervene and take them away from her and raise them like the "incubator hatched ones"?
THANK YOU!
What do you do with the broody hen and the baby chicks she hatches out? I read that some people move them out to a separate coop, some leave them in the main coop if the older ones treat them "niceley". (I was planning on moving them into the second coop.)
Do you provide chick raising food and put the food for the mother up higher where the baby chicks can't reach it? Will the mother eat the baby's food?
What do baby chicks eat when people leave them with the adult chickens in one coop? I use layer pellets. Does the broody hen (this is my first broody one - a silky) feed them in some way?
I am confused about the feeding part of it all. If anybody could explain it to me that would be great!
Also, what are my chances of the "first-time mom" knowing what to do with her baby chicks? How will I know when to intervene and take them away from her and raise them like the "incubator hatched ones"?
THANK YOU!