Freelance nesters and baby chicks!

[Soapbox]

:shock: :D

So we had the challenge of finding hidden eggs and the latest chapter is that we've had a hen who separated herself from the rest of the flock, choosing to not to come home at night. We could never figure out where she was brooding and assumed she had been done in by a predator, until today when I discovered her under our neighbor's tomato boxes with 14 baby chicks! Only one was unhealthy and appeared to have been rejected by her. The rest are doing great. We've moved her and her clan into a cozy box on our enclosed front porch for now. She appears to be very appreciative of the relocation and has been eating out of my hand. I removed all the unbroken eggs so as not to draw skunks and coons to my poor neighbor's yard.

Any suggestions for how/when to integrate these little miracles with the rest of the flock. I was thinking I should move them into the coop in a couple of days but give her a separate space for tending them. I also believe that the chicks may have come from some of our other hens as well.. as they appear to have different color/features. But its awfully early to tell. They can't be more than a few days old.

[Dondoyle26]

I wouldnt lock them in with the adults until they are a few months old. The adults may kill the little ones. Specially if they all gang up on mom. This is another one of natures little surprises when hens free range.. Good luck with the little ones and hopefully they feather out fast being winter is approachinig. Hopefully you don't have much or any snow to deal with. If its possible I would try to put them in a small brooder pen or something. Being free range mom can avoid the adults but, chances are if they stay free range you wont raise any of the chicks to many preditors. You really may end up loosing the hen if she is loose cause she has no choice but to roost on the ground with the little ones. Once again Good luck!