Bringing new chicks inside to hand raise?

[GiovannaZofia]

I have a broody hen that we introduced some fertilized eggs under. They are just now hatching today. She is a great mama! We did this last year as well when she went broody, but she protected the chicks so well that we could not hold them and interact with them as they grew, and now the grown chickens she raised will not let us near them. On the other hand, the chicks that we raised by hand inside from the feed store two years ago are very docile and let my son pet them since they’re used to interaction.

Since these are backyard chickens and more pets/egg production animals, we would really like to have docile chickens that let us handle them. Has anyone ever removed chicks from under a broody hen and brought them inside to hand raise them? Will they re-integrate again OK after a few weeks of being inside? If so, when is the best time to take them in?

Pictures of our hand raised/tame chickens for cuteness.

Thanks for your expertise!
Giovanna

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If your goal is to have tame birds than taking them away as they hatch is the best thing to do. You also could do some handling while still leaving the chicks with the mother.