Broody hens- introducing chicks- HELP!!

Oahu Babies

Chirping
6 Years
Jun 9, 2015
20
6
82
Hi all!! I'm new to BYC, so forgive me if I'm asking something that someone has already answered. BUT, here it goes:

I have Red Jungle Fowl mixes, who go broody often. Now that it has been warmer here in New Mexico, I allowed them to sit on their own fertilized eggs. I am not worried about them not being good mamas to their own babies. I do want to buy some chicks from the feed store and have them raise them too though.

That is what I am worried about. How do I give them the new chicks? I know they all have to be about the same age, and I have to be sneaky about it, but I'm just not sure. Do I have to do it at night? Will the rooster be aggressive to the new babies or his own? Can I put the new chicks under the mama before her own eggs hatch or do I do it after? If her babies hatch during the day is it ok to give her the new chicks then or that night? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just worried! Thanks!
 
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Hopefully another greeter will come along that has done that but I don't have any experience with that process...I just wanted to say hello, it's nice to have you here. You could try using the Search feature (upper left, under the logo) to see if you can find other posts about adding new chicks to a broody.

Thanks for joining us!
 
Hi and welcome to BYC. From what i have read, it can work, but theres no guarantee. For optimum results you will need to get your chicks on the same day as the hatch and then slip them in with momma during the evening. I guess one also has to consider how many eggs they are currently sitting on - if they have 10+ (depends to some extent on the size of the mother hen) then adding more little ones may make it difficult for momma to keep all of them warm. It might be easier to get some fertilised eggs and remove the existing ones from on of the broodies.

All the best
CT
 
I agree with CTken, whatever you do please supervise well until it everything seems to be going well. It can be very tricky. Usually better to slip eggs under them than try to introduce chicks. Chickens are not as dumb as some people believe.
 
Thanks everyone for your help! My broodies took all the babies fine and they are raising them! But, I have another question. I have one baby turkey that is with the surrogate mother who seems to be doing well. I just read online that baby turkeys need a higher protein than baby chicks. Do I put the mama and all her babies on a game bird feed? Or do I have to separate him and feed him separately? Will the game feed hurt the chicks? Will the turkey eventually die if he stays on the normal chick starter? Thanks
 
I have a similar thing going on here, with on turkey and the rest chickens. Since the feed store told us chick starter would work on a t urkey we didnt' realize the error until we got home. I've been feeding him egg and meal worms in addition to the chick starter to up the protein. I also have read that several on the board feed the game feed to them all and it doesn't hurt the chicks to get extra protein. I would of done that myself if I hadn't got the chick starter.

I'm still researching about feeding all the adult layers game feed once we are out of layer and chick starter. Everyone will be eating everyone elses food, so it would be nice to have them on the same one. It seems some folks do this, I still feel I need to read a bit more on nutrition before I'm comfortable with it though.
 

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