Ask the Expert: How do I feed chick crumb to two newly hatched chicks under a broody hen when they’re living in a shared coop with two greedy adult hens who keep eating it first?
When you’ve got a determined broody who’s successfully hatched her babies in a shared coop, it’s a lovely sight — but it does leave you wondering how on earth to make sure the chicks actually get their chick crumb before the aunties swoop in. I’ve been in this spot more than once here at East Sussex Smallholders, and the trick is to let mum do her job while quietly making sure the babies have their own safe food access.
Right, lovely situation to be in — and well done to your broody for sticking it out. When you’ve got a mum raising chicks in a shared coop, the trick is to let her do her job while making sure the little ones actually get their share of chick crumb without the aunties hoovering it up.
Here are a few things that work really well on smallholdings like ours:
1. Give the chicks “micro-feeding stations” the adults can’t squeeze into
A shallow little dish tucked right into a corner, behind a low board, or under a small crate with a chick-sized entrance works wonders. The chicks can dart in and out, but the big girls can’t get their heads in as easily. I often prop a brick or two to create a tiny tunnel — very DIY but surprisingly effective.
If you prefer something a bit tidier, there are small chick feeders with narrow grids that stop adult hens from helping themselves. You can find similar ones on Amazon if you’re short on time. I’ve linked my favourite version below.
2. Scatter a bit of crumb where mum naturally scratches
Broody mums are brilliant scratchers, and they’ll call the babies over whenever they find food. A little scattering (not heaps) encourages natural behaviour and gives the chicks extra opportunities to eat while the adults are busy elsewhere. Just keep it dry so it doesn’t turn to mush.
3. Put the main adult feeders a bit further away
If the grown hens have a feeder they love on the opposite side of the run, they’ll spend more time there and less time eyeing up the chick crumb. It spreads the traffic out nicely and gives the youngsters some breathing room.
4. If needed, hang a temporary divider
Not a full separation — just a bit of mesh or a puppy panel to carve out a corner for a couple of weeks. Mum can hop over to visit the others, but the chicks get a safe space to eat. It doesn’t need to be fancy; I’ve used everything from spare weldmesh to an old fireguard. Anything with gaps too small for adult shoulders but big enough for baby wings will do the job.
5. Don’t worry about being in there constantly
Chicks raised under a good mum don’t need you topping up every few hours once they’ve found the food confidently. As long as there’s always some crumb available in a chick-only spot and water that the big girls can’t tip over, they’ll manage brilliantly. I’m usually down to two visits a day by the end of the first week with coop-raised chicks — just a quick top-up and a check that no one has kicked the feeder over.
Raising chicks in a shared space can feel a bit chaotic at first, but broody hens are excellent teachers, and once you’ve set up a couple of chick-only feeding options, the whole routine settles beautifully. It’s one of the loveliest things to watch on the smallholding, and with just a few tweaks, everyone gets what they need without you being run off your feet.
