The Poultry Keeper

Clover · Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 33

I posted earlier that Gertie has become broody, sitting on eggs, she does live with a cockerel so they may be fertile. She seems to be doing ok, sitting tight, very grumpy if you go near her, puffing up / growling and pecking you away etc. She is coming off the nest at least once a day to stretch her legs, eat and drink. She has become very bossy lately, she definitely is now the top of the pecking order. I'm not worried about her welfare but my question is, if and when the chicks do hatch, should I separate gertie and her chicks from the others? In total there are 4 hens (including Gertie) and a cockerel sharing the house and run. They don't free range round the garden because they are small and flighty.

All advice welcome to a new chicken keeper (who didn't imagine that after just a few weeks this could have happened and I don't know what to do)

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1196 Location: Cornwall

How big is the run and house?

The chicks should be fine with mum to protect them until they're a few weeks old.

Try it out and see, if one of the other hens starts on them and mum chook can't stave her off, then think about putting them somewhere on their own, a second hand rabbit hutch is good for a broody and her chicks.

mojo · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:42 pm Post subject:

personal i would seperate inside pen so they can see each other but not conflict

Clover · Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 33

Thank you both for replies, think i'll have to invest in a rabbit hutch or simillar, the outdoor run (the half closest to the house is covered) is approx 13 /14 feet long by approx 5 feet wide. I'm too scared to let them free range round the garden, (although I'd love to), I'm worried about them hopping up onto the pear tree and legging it into next door, and of course we have foxes (we're semi-rural), my immediate neighbours have seven cats in total. They're very small for chickens - say, about two thirds the size of a proper hen and they lay really cute small white eggs.

I'm assuming i'm right after reading on this forum that mum will 'do her thing' and nature will take its course when the time comes? will she teach them how to feed and should I need to get different food? they currently have layers pellets available all the time and mixed corn in the afternoon and a few veg and they adore grass!!!!

jaydee67 · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:34 pm Post subject:

You'll need chick crumbs and mum will eat it too. Leave off the corn until they're bigger and if the chicks have access to grass they could do with some chick grit as well to help them digest it.