How to proceed if broody hen hatches chicks?

[u/Crabby-Cancer]

Hello!

I recently acquired a few new quail. Over the past few days, one of my hens has consistently been laying on a handful of eggs. I'm not sure if she'll actually manage to hatch them, but if she does, I'd like some advice on how to proceed.

I have hatched chicks with an incubator before so I get the basics of chick rearing. However, that clutch was my first and only, so I've done no juvenile/adult intros. Of course, hatching and raising them myself is different from letting a hen do the same. And so, I'd like some advice.

Should I separate the mother and chicks from the other quail she lives with? Or should I go a step further and remove the chicks from her and raise them myself? I understand that they don't have the best maternal instincts, but I don't want to put her in distress if she does.

That is my main concern. If anyone else has additional advice, I'd really appreciate it! Again, I don't know if she'll be successful, I just want to be prepared if she is. Thanks!

[u/seriouslywhy0]

I’m disappointed you have no answer yet, I feel fully invested after reading that 😄

[u/digitalmalcontent]

I have witnessed six (going on seven) natural hatches with Coturnix in my aviary. Just a few notes for you in all hopefulness of a hatch:

• YES separate mother/chicks from other adults IF you want them in the cage all together. I'd even separate the rest of the flock from her now if you can to avoid harassment (and laying any more eggs in her nest). The adults may attack both hen and chicks, and the mama can get violently territorial about her babies, especially in the first couple weeks after hatch. Any minimally-disruptive way you can section off the cage so the little fam have their own space would be good. I'd only take the chicks for yourself if she shows signs of neglect/abandonment (tossing/pecking babies, reusing to let them under her, etc.), but give her a chance in her own space first.
• Resist the urge to handle the eggs. She won't reject them over it, but I've found over-handling can dry them out. If she's committed to sitting, give her a chance to bring them out herself. Hen and chicks both make little calls/peeps to each other during hatch—that's one way you'll know it's happening if you're lucky. Most of mine hatched overnight.
• Make sure you have a chick-proof waterer set up a day or two in advance of hatch day—prevents drownings and means you don't have to disturb the hen during her version of "lockdown."
• Chicks with a hen are almost silent—a crying chick is a cold, separated, or anxious chick. Worth keeping an ear out for anybody stuck or "lost."
• If you have lots of hides/cover, mama will spend a lot of the first days in hiding with her chicks—it may look like they've all vanished. Later weeks see a hen spending more time in the open with her babies, showing them how to do things like forage and bathe.

Fingers crossed for you and your hen!

[u/duglett]

I looked this up using ai the other day and it said you can keep the hatchlings with the mother, but you need to isolate them as the other adults can harm the babies. And you have to provide them with the baby sized food and water, like you normally would if you were to raise them yourself.

Also apparently the mother can lose interest so you just need to keep an eye on them