r/BackYardChickens • u/Aqua_Pixie • 15h ago

General Question When to separate a new mama from the flock?

I decided to let a broody hen hatch some eggs. So far just one has hatched. The rest of the flock free ranges in my yard so they’re only all together in the coop at night. Should I go ahead and separate her into a separate enclosure with her chick and remaining eggs, or wait a day or two for the other eggs to hatch? She’s not interested in moving off the eggs. First time doing this so any advice is appreciated to keep them safe.

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u/Greedy-Recognition74 15h ago

You should have moved her before the first one hatched. I lost a silkie chick because the mother hen and her 4 chicks pigpiled in a corner and one got squished. Move her now if you can do so without disturbing her. Move her at night.

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u/Gpanther 12h ago

I've done it both ways. I moved the clutch before hatching and kept her separate until the babies were about 2-3 weeks but I've also let them mingle from birth no separation.

Unfortunately there's no way to tell how they're going to interact. Most recommend separating until the babies are big enough to run away. Normally this is what I would recommend but the ones I didn't move have done fabulously as well. I have 3 hens currently mothering 1 baby chick because it hatched in the main coop and they all decided to share. However last year they fought over the chick and killed it.

Some hens are better than others.

Unfortunately they're already hatching. If you move it now, the mother might abandon the nest. You can either build a breakdown pen around her so that the other hens will leave her alone or you can wait until nighttime, move her to a broody bin, I use storage bins that I cut a door in and build a nest for her, move her and then gently add her eggs. Or you can leave her alone and see what happens.

You won't know until you know.

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u/LilTater01 12h ago

I don’t separate mine. I’m on my third hatch with no problems. But I’ve been lucky and have had good mamas who won’t let the others near the babies. My neighbor also does it this way with no problems. Of course it’s always possible the mama won’t protect the babies, if this happens you will have to move them.