when can i take chicks away from hen

[chimp 299]

i put some eggs under a friends broody and they have hatched ok , dumb question and probably a obvious one but what sort of age can i take the chicks away from the hen?

 

ta

[skycat 6,174]

Why can't you leave them with the hen until they sprout adult feathers? She will teach them how to look for food, keep them warm at night better than an incubator, and guard them if need be. Couldn't you just borrow her to rear the chicks until they are old enough to go it alone. Once they start perching at night and no longer huddle under the hen they are old enough to go it alone: they'll have most of their adult feathers by then.

[Moll. 1,793]

Once they dont need heat, they will do for several weeks yet, some breeds need it for longer than others. Be better if you could just leave the broody with them, she has sat on them for 3wks after all, she will get rid of them when the time is right

[chimp 299]

dont get me wrong i wasnt intending to take them away from the hen straight away , its a friends broody and we are sharing the birds . i was just intrested what sort of time scale it takes the broody to push the chicks away .

 

 

hopefully i will have some legbars hatching this week aswell

[Paid 935]

Once they are feathered up, so 4 to 6 weeks from hatching.

[chimp 299]

Once they are feathered up, so 4 to 6 weeks from hatching.

 

 

thanks all