Keeping a Broody Hen and Chicks in the Flock - Yes, You Can!

Broody hens don't have to be kept separate from the main flock if you follow some simple guidelines. Letting a broody raise her chicks with the rest of the flock can make things much easier for you and your chickens.
Learn more about broody hens:
• Broody Hens
Need an easy protein source? We feed GrubTerra! Use code "CHU" and get 10% off:
grubterra.com/products/grubte...
Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-...

[@reedjasonf]

I had a broody hen. Got 12 fertilized eggs from a neighbor and she hatched them all out. Didn't separate or supply a 2nd coop at all. She just raised them as part of the flock from day 1.

[@ChickenHues]

That’s great! Thanks for sharing your experience with us!

[@irenezippo5637]

I am doing the same, I had only 4 fertiled eggs, yesterday found out only 1 egg in the coop, and found one dead body, one other hen was pecking on it (didn't know was a chick) :( Now I don't know who ate other chicks, feeling devastated.. rescued last egg, already piped, now in incubator, hope it will get out today. Now I'm struggling how could I introduce the new chick to the mama later. I have a question for you: did you remove the roosting bars inside the coop? how did you set up the big coop for mama and newborn chicks? I am thinking to make it flat for the little ones..

[@redbootshomestead558]

Stacie.. you won't believe it yesterday evening she was all excited and wanted to get back out of the chicken coop with her babies so I let her out her rooster and her other sister wife was also outside.. she kept flying on the tree and I thought she wanted to get away from them but she taught them how to fly up on trees she was up there and calling them the whole time.. then she said on a 2×4 Scrap I had laying on a chicken coop and she went low with her butt and kept walking and I saw that she taught them how to sit on a roost.. so I ended up just carrying the rscrap wood around the corner in her chicken coop.. let them in and she ended up sitting on her Roost for the first time with the babies..

[@ChickenHues]

Well, isn’t that something? She knew what she was doing all along! Glad that worked out and they’re back in the coop!

[@theITGuy-no3nt]

Your chickens are well mannered. 🤗 I love when people take loving care of their flock and the chickens get so chill.

[@ChickenHues]

Thanks and thank you for watching!

[@THall-vi8cp]

I let my broody hens set on eggs in the coop with the rest of the flock. No problems. During the day I keep them in a 16x12 run with the hen while the rest free range. They are all in the coop together at night. I do this for a couple reasons: We have many hawks in the area and we have lot of of neighborhood cats. After about four or five weeks I let them out with the rest of the birds. I've had few losses to predators this way and the little ones learn their place in the flock early.

[@ChickenHues]

That sounds like it works great for you! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@GmaAlice]

That is some of the best information and advice I've seen shared here on You Tube. For the chicks going through the bigger openings in the fence, we put a strip of the small hole chicken wire along the bottom of the fence" You're so knowledgable in raising chickens and sharing your trials and error with everyone can help them with raising chickens. Your chickens all seemed sociable and respectful of mamma hen and her chicks. That treat time seemed like a great time was had by all the chickens. Kind of like a chicken social lol. Thank you for sharing all you share with everyone. I'm sure it's a big help. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

[@ChickenHues]

Great suggestion about the chicken wire across the bottom of the fence! I hope it helps someone else or gives them an idea! I used to have some pretty inconvenient and unnecessary set ups until I learned from others! :)

[@ChickenHues]

I should add, that I'm still always learning from people willing to share their experience and knowledge - like you! Thank you! :)

[@fionar1656]

I have always raised chicks with their broody Mother hen amongst the main flock as well.

[@ChickenHues]

It works really well, doesn't it?

[@fionar1656]

Yes it does. I believe its the natural way if chooks/chickens were left to do it on their own they would be nesting, hatching & raising their chicks amongst the flock.

[@shylocounts1946]

Hatched our first,🐣 today Thanks for your advice

[@wrstlngstud82]

See that square wire where you're talking about the chicks getting out at the 4:00 mark? That's how you keep chick starter always available for the chicks and keep the big chickens away from it ;)

[@ChickenHues]

Good idea! Thanks!

[@SouthpawDavey]

Thats great info. Nice to see the chicks i have just hatched 16 quail. But I also have a broody quail sat on eggs 10 days in now a very rare occurrence fingers crossed. All the best Dave

[@ChickenHues]

I don't have quail, but I have read that is pretty rare! I hope she hatches them for you! :)

[@SouthpawDavey]

Its looking good so far be due at the end of the month so we will see ;-)

[@mvstormyoneadventures]

we have let the brody hen/hens to sit and hatch their eggs with the other hens. So far it has worked fine. We do give them chick starter but we also let the big girls eat it too.

[@ChickenHues]

Do they stay in one of your nest boxes or somewhere else in the coop? We had one hen hatch in a nest box because she refused to be moved. It was fine, too. :)

[@mvstormyoneadventures]

Chicken Hues yes they just stay in the nesting box

[@leafy5432]

This was SO helpful thank you!

[@ChickenHues]

I’m glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for watching and commenting!

[@sweettoothmomma2621]

Helpful video, thank you!

[@ChickenHues]

I’m so glad you found it helpful! Thank you!

[@AutumnOaksFarm]

Very cool and good information.

[@ChickenHues]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@ayeeshasworld]

Very informative video! GreAt share!

[@ChickenHues]

Thank you!

[@MollysHappyDuckFarm]

Cute little chicks.

[@FishingWithBIGD]

great info

[@ChickenHues]

Thanks, Big-D!

[@houndsmanone4563]

Quite interesting. Thumbs up.

[@ChickenHues]

Thanks for watching!

[@jessicaj8148]

I have a broody right now (5 or 6 days in downing on which day you start count). She is in the coop in the most favored box. She has what I think are fertilized eggs. We have a rooster. We had some drama today when she left the nest to eat and drink. I’m considering sectioning off an area in the coop for her so this doesn’t happen again. She also got quite picked on by the others when she was getting food.

[@ChickenHues]

I often separate my hens. It’s only been recently that I started leaving them in the flock. You can do either way! It is actually the broody hen that created the drama when she comes barreling out of the coop like a crazy puff ball. They do seem to attack the hen, but mine have never done any damage. It’s just a lot of drama.

[@JasonKlepacz]

My 4 year old broody hen is the best momma. She is very defensive of her babies and will not let any hen or rooster get close to them.

[@ChickenHues]

Good for her! ❤️

[@bunrein1]

I am thinking about doing the same. A skunk got a couple in my coup so they got moved to the dog run in the fenced back yard. They kid let them out with the 2 pyrenees and are doing great. Skunk came back and dogs and a .22 handled it. But i would like to see if i can get a broddy hen out of the bunch and just let them do their thing in the back yard. Great video!

[@ChickenHues]

Thanks so much for watching! Glad You got rid of your problem skunk!

[@RobVonDee]

Great video very informative, I have my first chicken egg hatching right now, there silkies and the momma hen is sitting with her 3 sisters in the coop all sitting alongside her, would I need to remove mother and chicks away from the other hens or would they still be ok to live together?

[@ChickenHues]

The problem can come if the other hens see the chicks as a threat. It’s probably fine, as long as they have lots of room to get away from one another. But watch things very carefully at first to make sure they have it worked out. Good luck! Let us know how it went!

[@cherylangel1714]

My hen Mary had her first baby today. She's only a few days away from turning 7 months old, so she is a young mama! Your chickens look like they are all friends. Mine have cliques and they like to bully each other. Mary is closer to the bottom rank so I might end up separating them, but I will give her a few days to hatch everybody out.

[@ChickenHues]

Mine also have a ton of room to get away from one another. If they’re a more aggressive flock or in smaller spaces, it is probably better to separate them a bit

[@doodles3075]

Just had our very 1st chick hatch 2 weeks ago. Mum was sat on eggs in the main coop. The other eggs didn't hatch( bought from Ebay) Moved her into a spare coop with baby. After the 1st week she bought baby into the garden( i nearly died of fright when i 1st spotted her) shes doing so well. Even my other hens are keeping an eye on her😊 Not 100% sure if she would have been safe doing so if they had been locked in a run together. All happy free ranging round the garden, helping themselves to my raspberries 😁

[@ChickenHues]

How wonderful! Isn’t it the best to watch a hen raise chicks? ❤️. (My hens and chicks are only locked in a coop together at night. They have an enclosed run PLUS a huge yard to free range. Lots of space is always the key with chickens!)

[@doodles3075]

@@ChickenHues absolutely. I could watch her all day🥰 especially listening to her talking to her baby.

[@Chickenmom777]

Do you move the eggs and hen over to that hutch? If so how does she adjust to the distribution. Thank you

[@aloesauruswrexbts844]

saw ya at playte's shoutout! we also have a broody girl, we're just going to let her hatch a few. new supporter here and #14! you have such a pretty flock!

[@ChickenHues]

Thanks for stopping by! Broody hens are so fun to watch with their chicks! I'm already one of your subscribers!

[@Anna-tj9ef]

I have 3 bantams hens are 2 of them are broody we were thinking about putting fertilised eggs under them. We have a descent sized coop and a 2 metre run but in the day the hens are let out in my secure large garden what do you think??

[@violetcooney3423]

i just found this video, one of my three hens out of an easter egger, polish, and silkie is broody. shes been broody for at least two weeks now. im going in a two day trip and when i come back im going to be getting her chicks from the feed store. im worried since shes the silkie shes not going to be able to protect her chicks from the other hens, and i dont have any option for a second coop. im going to be giving her a private dog kennel for her and her chicks but i dont know how the other hens are going to react

[@Merr_Khan]

I have a 1st time broody hatching right now.

[@ChickenHues]

How fun! Let us know how it goes!

[@donroo736]

I remember chasing chicks around. And it WAS fun hahhaha

[@ChickenHues]

Not sure “fun” is how I’d describe it! 😂.

[@ripplemoon249]

That broody hen is very pretty; what breed is she? And her chicks are so sweet. It was really heartwarming to see adult hens pecking happily alongside the little babies. 💜

[@ChickenHues]

She is an olive egger from a beautiful blue Ameraucana hen and Black Copper Marans rooster. I love seeing chicks with their mom, too. ❤️

[@acgray1972]

I was bringing broody mom in and fussing constantly over babies the first and second year. Some old timer asked me once in the middle of TSC if I thought all farmers 50 to 100 years ago brought mom's and baby chicks in the house? Or had time to fuss over broody hens and chicks? So last year I took a few Xtra Large totes and out my broody mom's in those with eggs/ chicks. This year I have five broody hens and these girls had nests on the ground and started taking babies out after the 3 Rd or 4th day! Other hens and roosters really n along side of 25 babies!!

[@ChickenHues]

Same here! LOL. This is the first year I’ve barely fussed at all and they’ve done fine. Thanks for sharing and so glad your hens and chicks are doing well.

[@tenacresofrandom-ness1236]

wow! this was very helpful. Also i was wondering.......will the roosters pick on the young chicks and also........how old should the chicks be to go and run around outside?

[@ChickenHues]

My roosters have never bothered the chicks. They have always been very curious and seem to like them. My hens take the chicks out after about 3 or 4 days. Thanks for watching!

[@jessicaj8148]

I had 4 chicks hatch yesterday under my broody. One got smashed by mom accidentally when I was tending to the coop and making sure there was water and feed for her and the chicks. I have two more eggs that didn’t hatch with the others. I’ll check today to see if they hatched as well. This was very easy so far. I just have to figure out the set up for her and the chicks. Right now I have a hard plastic dog crate in with the door opening in front of her nest. I. With food water and dust bath. I know this might not work for more than a few days. I removed the top of the crate this morning so if she wants to get out she can. I’m thinking of moving that crate into the run if it will fit. I have an enclosed yard off the run but I need to make some security adjustments. Thinking of putting the crate on blocks with a low ramp/or steps for them. But I’m still trying to figure this out lol

[@ChickenHues]

You’ll figure out what works best for you and the hen. We tried a lot of things over the years, and still keep making adjustments. Enjoy watching the hen and her chicks - it’s so sweet, isn’t it?

[@lisag3843]

Thank you for your video. I am intrigued by this way of keeping them close. We have a fenced enclosure for our flock of one rooster and seven hens. In the enclosure is a coop the flock sleeps in. Also there is an old coop that they have access to during the day. One hen flew out of the enclosure weeks ago. Later we found her sitting on a nest she made in an overgrown flower bed. Apparently she had been going in and out of the enclosure when we weren't watching lol. Yesterday we made a partition in the old coop. At sundown last night we went to move her and the eggs into the partition, only to discover that some of the chicks had already hatched out and others were in process. We moved them all anyway. Would you recommend leaving them in the partition for a period of time? Any thoughts that came to mind as you read my story? Please share them. Be blunt, this is my first broody hen experience. I am here to learn. Thank you!

[@ChickenHues]

I’ve done it both ways - hens and their chicks separated and also right in the main coop. It is best if the rest of the flock is able to see the hen and chicks, though. Otherwise, it can be a problem for all of them when it’s time to go back together. I have several videos in my broody hen playlist that shows both ways. You can decide what works best in your situation. Enjoy watching them! There isn’t much cuter than a hen with her chicks. Yours sounds like quite a mom, too. Please let me know how it goes!

[@jeffreyyeager1398]

So if I don't have a fenced in yard and my main chicken run is about 8.5 ft. wide and 12 ft. Long with the house 3.5 ft. Off the ground. I have a small coup 2'W x 4'L x 3'H that has 2 nesting beds sticking out of the back, that I raised my first peeps in. What do you recommend I do to start with? I am thinking about taking 12 to 14 eggs and try to get a hen to go broody and sit on them this spring.

[@ChickenHues]

Are you asking if the little coop would be big enough for the hen to hatch the chicks in? If so, then yes, as long as she'd be the only chicken in there. If she did hatch that many chicks, they'd probably outgrow it at some point, but it sounds like it would work fine to start. I hope that helps and best of luck!

[@jerialexis5647]

Good video thank you. What breed is that momma hen?

[@ChickenHues]

She is an Olive Egger-mix between a blue Ameraucana and Black Copper Marans. 😊

[@amyharris7337]

So are what point do you put the hen and chicks in the smaller coop and yard? When she goes broody or after chicks are born? We just have one main coop right now, but we do have a large brooder box that we could modify to turn into a nursery coop.

[@ChickenHues]

I usually moved her after she’d been seriously sitting for about a week. The last two years, I’ve let the hens set and raise their chicks right in the main coop, without separating. It’s gone well for me both ways. The benefit to inside the coop is that the chicks are used to going in there at night from the start. P

[@RamClaw]

I have a bit of an issue, my broody hen has fertile eggs under her. The problem is, the other hens in the coop are trying to lay in the same box as my broody hen. What should I do to stop this?

[@ChickenHues]

I’ve never been able to stop that. Just take the new eggs out each day. I mark the fertile eggs the hen is on so I know which to take out.

[@lindabirmingham603]

I have a broody game hen sitting on 2 fertile eggs in the loft of a small coop. I am concerned about them plummeting to their death. Should I close the door and lock them in for a few days? The hen is a wild game hen that I adopted and have never handled. I could place them in the bottom floor f the coop?

[@ChickenHues]

I think chicks can fall pretty far without plummeting to their death. If you feel better, you can move her and the chicks to a lower place (at night!). There is a risk of her refusing to stay there, though. My guess is they’ll be ok where they are though.

[@maureenfletcher1320]

This is the first time I've had hens laying on fertilized eggs. It feels like forever, one chick hatched and was dead. So sad. She's still sitting on at least 10 eggs. The temp is about 55 60 degrees here in Washington. We have a lamp/ light in the coop Will she keep them warm enough? I'm such a nervous Mama. Thanks in advance.

[@ChickenHues]

It can be so nerve wracking! They'll be just fine in those temperatures! 55-60 degrees is a great temperature for chickens, anyway. I'd love to hear how things go!

[@kendrasteffen9563]

I’ve been trying to get my hens broody I think I finally got one to become brood I had to completely lock them apart so they will be separated for awhile but idk for sure if she’ll stay on the eggs

[@ChickenHues]

Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

[@roosterlife5069]

Did she stay on the eggs?

[@pamelaremme38]

How do you "get your hen to go broody?" I've never heard of that. In most commercial breeds the broodiness has gotten bred out of them. Buff Orphingtons and Silkies are the best bet.

[@glennelliott7009]

My hen is very protective of her chicks, the other's stay clear of the chicks

[@ChickenHues]

No one wants to mess with a crazy broody hen and her chicks. 😂

[@DerafsheKavian]

Hi Stacie, can three months old chicks have oats, wheat, or corn added to their feed? If yes, can they handle whole grain or does it have to be crushed? Thanks.

[@ChickenHues]

They should be able to handle that as long as you have grit available to them. Keep in mind that adding grains will affect the nutritional content of their feed, so make sure you research that. Full grown chickens have no problem with whole corn. I'd guess if it's still too big for your little ones that they just won't eat it.

[@redbootshomestead558]

I give mine fine crushed plain Corn Flakes..i have Bantams

[@eggyolks3274]

I have some pretty dominant hens in my flock that i feel might pick on the chicks too much even with momma hen around. Theyve beat up on broody moms ive had in the past who have “squared up” to them to tell them to back off. Would it be ok if i just left her and her chicks in a horse stall right next to the coop?? Would they still be aware of each others presence so i dont have to worry too much about integrating chicks? Also would a momma hen mess with other broody mommas sitting on eggs or chicks in brooders that are in that same stall if her chicks are in there? I have broody boxes lined up on the wall of the stall and brooders in almost every corner.

[@ChickenHues]

Every flock is different, so find what works for yours. Lots of room always makes mixing chickens easier. My broody hens haven’t had a problem with the others, but they have gotten upset with the other chicks that come near to theirs. So just try and keep an eye on things. Best of luck!

[@eggyolks3274]

Chicken Hues thank you so much! That helps a lot..

[@CoyoteCrossingSanctuary]

What ratio do you find end up roosters? Do the Roos get along ok?

[@ChickenHues]

The ratio of chicks a hen hatches? It tends to depend on whether I’m hatching for males or females and then it goes the opposite way. 😂. Seriously, it tends to be about half and half overall, but can go anyway in individual hatches. I don’t keep all the roosters, but they normally get along ok if they’re raised together until they reach maturity.

[@FarmallFanatic]

Got a pipped egg under my hen

[@ChickenHues]

Yay!!!!

[@touchlessgatessrinagar5408]

What if the other non broody hens lay eggs and the broody one leaves her eggs and sits on freshly laid when she sees them ? What can be done then isolate her !

[@ChickenHues]

Try to find a nest box that the rest of them don’t use and move her and her eggs there. Eventually she will bond with that box and stay put. You can also move her into a dog crate or rabbit hutch or something similar at night and see if she’ll stay there. I have a video on moving a broody hens in the broody hen playlist that shows that. Good luck! 😊

[@redbootshomestead558]

Our mama hen prefers now to lay outside in the night time with their 3 weeks old baby chicks I am panicking because she is not in the protected area she should be in the night because of predators so I try to make it secure as possible the night area got fresh straw it's all nice and clean I have no idea why she likes to lay outside suddenly

[@ChickenHues]

That’s weird, isn’t it? It’s hard to round them and move them, too.

[@backtoasimplelife]

I had a broody hen and her chicks in a separate coop and enclosure within the big enclosure , and one of my older hens got into the small enclosure and killed three chicks. Now I am going to have to keep the older hens separated from the broody hen and chicks. I thought that sort of thing easn't supposed to happen. A breeder friend said she doesn't even separate her broody and chicks from the rest of the flock.

[@ChickenHues]

I’m sorry that happened to you. Chickens can be unpredictable. Space tends to be the answer to most things. When they get trapped or confined sometimes it can cause problems. Personally, I would remove hens that kill chicks regardless of the situation. If the hen and chicks have been too far removed from the flock they can start to see them as invaders.

[@getrich6931]

What breed is that grey chicken ???

[@ChickenHues]

A Lavender Ameraucana. 😀

[@crashofthemoons]

I have a rooster and two hens. One hen just hatched her eggs - and I only have one main coop. I’m debating separating bc I only have one coop and I’m worried out rooster will be mean to them?

[@ChickenHues]

I’ve not had a rooster be mean to chicks. The hen does a great job protecting them and I’ve seen some of those moms send the rooster flying. 😂. As long as they have plenty of room to get out of each other’s way they should be ok. How is it going so far?

[@crashofthemoons]

@@ChickenHues Its going well. I put mom and the chicks in a large tuperware storage container with the lid off inside the chicken run. When the chicks are a bit older i'll let them out in their own little coop still connected to the main chicken run. Rooster knows they are there and is giving them space 😊👍

[@redbootshomestead558]

And I am almost afraid we have two roosters and two hens off the baby chicks sadly we lost one Monday but also was probably a rooster..

[@ChickenHues]

My odds are usually all roosters but one. Lol. Sounds like you have 50/50. So sorry you lost one.

[@emilyso4465]

You can have ducks with a hen that has baby chicks at least my four ducks don’t care for them two of them are mallards and the other two are meant for egg laying so it might just be the type of ducks I have but they don’t careMight just be my ducks in general but we’ve had a big white X before with baby chicks and they don’t care either

[@FarmallFanatic]

I dont know if my Rhode island reds and barred rocks will sit or not.

[@ChickenHues]

I don't know about RIRs, but I've heard some Barred Rocks will. Maybe you'll get lucky!

[@Justinian506]

Farmall Fanatic Rhode Island Reds will do it sometimes in the mid range although all chickens can technically do it even production reds and blacks

[@bunrein1]

We had several Broody Rir. Best of luck.

[@nsusai6380]

But there are stray cats and they eat the chicks! So what should I do☹️☹️

[@ChickenHues]

That’s a tough one. Can you keep them in a protected area until they’re old enough that the cats will leave them alone?

[@maureenfletcher1320]

Does your rooster bother the chicks.

[@ChickenHues]

Not at all! The roosters have usually shown interest in our chicks as something to protect. Any rare bothering or pecking has been done by the other hens, and that has never been harmful, just general pecking order stuff.

[@rodeobaby20]

My problem is other hens go and lay eggs in with my broody hen and they’re cracking her fertile eggs! She’s been setting for almost a week so any longer and they’ll be killing half developed chicks and ear them

[@ChickenHues]

That is a problem for me, too! I move the hen to a less popular nesting box and sometimes that helps. You can also separate her to where the other hens can’t get to her.

[@pamelaremme38]

What a pretty girl. I love your teeth. Lol. Thanks for the info. I have my first broody.

[@ChickenHues]

Thanks! How exciting for you! I hope it all goes well!

[@pamelaremme38]

@@ChickenHues I am 63, just built a wall dividing my coop. I built the gate today with wood and hardware cloth. I just came in from moving my broody into her new area! Anxious to see if she will stay in there or return to the nesting box??? Should I keep the gate closed until she gets used to it? Thoughts? Its about a 10x10 space with feed, water and lots of straw in the dog kennel. Hens were chasing her off the nesting box but she would go out and get scratch grains then go back in when hens were done.

[@chlebajatro]

🐔🐤🐤🐤🥰

[@filstewart2380]

Well - just had a clutch of chicks cannibalised by the flock. She was in a small coop next to the main shed.

[@ChickenHues]

I'm so sorry to hear that! Did you see the other chickens kill them? Did something happen to the hen?

[@filstewart2380]

@@ChickenHues yup, saw a pullet with a chick in her mouth so I ran to the broody coop. Broody still sitting but no babies left.

[@ChickenHues]

Did this hen hatch the chicks herself? Why wasn’t she with them? Did she have eggs of different incubation and was waiting on others to hatch?

[@filstewart2380]

@@ChickenHues Yes, she hatched them herself. She was still in the broody coop but looking flustered. However, I have had hens raise chicks with the flock in the past with no issues. I've another sitting hen at the moment - on bought in eggs - so given the cost of buying the eggs I have her in a broody coop in a run. I'll keep this lot in the run until they are grown a bit

[@richoutdoors5276]

i 7

[@touchlessgatessrinagar5408]

What if the other non broody hens lay eggs and the broody one leaves her eggs and sits on freshly laid when she sees them ? What can be done then isolate her !

[@ChickenHues]

That can be a problem. You can keep moving her back into the correct eggs. I’ve also kept them in hutches or dog crates with their eggs.