Will Broody Hen Adopt 3 Week Old Chick?

Hiya!
We have a broody Buff Orpington- our first broody! While I'd love to let her hatch chicks, we don't have a rooster and can't legally get more chickens. However, we have one 3 week old chick, a Cochin, who we'd like to introduce her to. I went out and snuck the chick near her, and left them for just a few minutes- she didn't peck her or anything, but the chick just wandered away. Huffle (the BO) wasn't at all aggressive toward the chick, although she also didn't take right to it, probably because I put the darn thing just next to her. So I just went back out and snuck the chick underneath her- it wriggled a bit, but then I held it under her wing for a oment and it seemed to really settle down. Huffle didn't mind at all.
Do you think it's possible she'll adopt it? Should I steal her eggs? Is there anything else I should do?
Or do you think the chick is too old, and she's just indifferent?
All advice appreciated
Thanks!

UPDATE: That was earlier, when it was still light out. About 1/2 and hour ago I went to put all the chickens away, and I thought that I'd go ahead and try again. I slipped her in between my broody and the nest box wall, then shut the hatch. I went out ten minutes later, and little chick wasn't peeping at all- she was next to broody, although not under her, and they seemed fine. I then went out fifteen minutes after that, and little chick was still between wall and the hen, still quiet, and momma hen seemed happy.
However, I don't know if momma hen is actually momma hen, or if she's just ignoring little chick. Do I leave the chick out all night with her? The chick is three weeks old, and has thusfar been raised by people, but seems pretty happy. I'm just worried that at somepoint the chick will escape momma hen, and die of cold.
Do you think that they'll be fine? Any advice?
I am totally a helicopter chicken mom

I tried to give an orphan chick to another hen and she killed it. She had some new babies and coyotes had killed my other hen who had 3 chicks so I thought she would take them. She did not

Redneek said:

I tried to give an orphan chick to another hen and she killed it. She had some new babies and coyotes had killed my other hen who had 3 chicks so I thought she would take them. She did not

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I'm so sorry to hear that! Thats horrible! *hugs*
Little chick (Ami) is actually doing better than i thought with Huffle (Mama hen). I just went out to check on them and little peep was sitting right next to Huffle- I tucked her gently underneath mama, and she let out a soft stream if peeps and then quieted. Mama hen jyst clucked softly and slowly settled down around her- I cant wait to check on them in the morning! I REALLY hope everything goes smoothly. I'll check in the morning to reasess and give them food and water- fingers crossed! I'll try to get pics tomorrow

Did the hen take the chick?

Redneek said:

Did the hen take the chick?

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Yes, do tell?!

This all depends on Huffle. But it does appear she's open to nurturing the chick.

Be aware that at three weeks, this chick will not be under Huffle very much during the day as long as the temperature is above 70F. At night, it will need to sleep either close to her under a wing or under her breast.

As for the possibility of a broody accepting older chicks, I had one last summer who happily adopted three six-week old chicks and nurtured them until they were almost four months old.

I'm kind of hoping she'll do the same when I get four new EEs come June.

LOOKING FOR SOME INSIDE STREET KNOWLEDGE ON BUFF ORPINGTONS AS MOTHERS.
i have my first broody hen also being a buff orpington. came accross this post because she went broody right after i'd bought some baby chicks. Literally within 12 hours after i purchased them. lol. they'll be 3 weeks old if i wait to put them under her with what little hatches out (if all goes well, that is.) my rooster doesn't boss the hens around, he waits on them. Therefore not many eggs are fertile. probably only 3 out of the 15 are fertile. to early to candle yet though.

it would be really nice to have a hen protect these little ones i have in the brooder, and especially if all fails and none of the eggs hatch then, my broody hen will probably want some company.

The contemplation is a dire one, to chance it & closely monitory them when i introduce them to mother 3 weeks from now & then possibly not know for sure until it's too late, OR discard the eggs she's sitting on & just give her these babies now, OR not try to let her mother them at all & just release them at 6 + weeks old. all have perks & downsides to them.

i am wondering just by anyone else's experience with buff orpingtons, since we're going BO crazy today,...is it usually a breed that is a good mother? is this breed typically one to adopt chicks? Or are they a bit testy & picky if it's not theirs?

Thus far, My hen is very docile and calm. she allows other hens to lay beside her & is adopting their eggs so welly, i have to take them away from her. otherwise she'd be sitting on 100 eggs by the end of 3 weeks. :-O However, eggs & babies are two totally diff. stories, and so i cannot go by this to judge how she'll react to something that screams and cries.

chicken-rooquacks said:

LOOKING FOR SOME INSIDE STREET KNOWLEDGE ON BUFF ORPINGTONS AS MOTHERS.
i have my first broody hen also being a buff orpington. came accross this post because she went broody right after i'd bought some baby chicks. Literally within 12 hours after i purchased them. lol. they'll be 3 weeks old if i wait to put them under her with what little hatches out (if all goes well, that is.) my rooster doesn't boss the hens around, he waits on them. Therefore not many eggs are fertile. probably only 3 out of the 15 are fertile. to early to candle yet though.

it would be really nice to have a hen protect these little ones i have in the brooder, and especially if all fails and none of the eggs hatch then, my broody hen will probably want some company.

The contemplation is a dire one, to chance it & closely monitory them when i introduce them to mother 3 weeks from now & then possibly not know for sure until it's too late, OR discard the eggs she's sitting on & just give her these babies now, OR not try to let her mother them at all & just release them at 6 + weeks old. all have perks & downsides to them.

i am wondering just by anyone else's experience with buff orpingtons, since we're going BO crazy today,...is it usually a breed that is a good mother? is this breed typically one to adopt chicks? Or are they a bit testy & picky if it's not theirs?

Thus far, My hen is very docile and calm. she allows other hens to lay beside her & is adopting their eggs so welly, i have to take them away from her. otherwise she'd be sitting on 100 eggs by the end of 3 weeks. :-O However, eggs & babies are two totally diff. stories, and so i cannot go by this to judge how she'll react to something that screams and cries.

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Buff Orpington hens are generally regarded as very good mothers, and people will often use them to foster other chicks. If you want her to raise them like a mother, then you'll need to give them to her ASAP and give up on her hatching the eggs. How old are the chicks now? As long as they're only 2-3 days right now, it should work out fine-- you can look up more about slipping them in with her, but the general consensus is to wait until nighttime and then slip them quietly under her, removing the eggs, and then check up on them very early the next morning. Waiting until they're ~3 weeks old will not work- my chick here ended up kind of sleeping under the BO at night, and was fine with the cold, but never really ended up staying with her. Luckily, the broody was very tolerant, and didn't hurt the chick, but she would peck her when she could see her and never really mothered her either- she stayed broody on eggs for another three weeks until we just broke her off entirely.

Anyway, yes, she should be an excellent mother. Mothering instincts vary by chicken, but BOs are known as particularly good mothers, so odds are that she'll do well. If you want her to raise your indoor chicks, you'll need to introduce them as soon as you can, and if they're already 5 or more days old that might not work, anyway. If you decide to just let her hatch her own chicks and just raise those that works too, as long as you don't mind raising your current ones inside. Good luck with whatever you decide to do- I'd love to hear how it all works out

Hufflefluff said:

Buff Orpington hens are generally regarded as very good mothers, and people will often use them to foster other chicks. If you want her to raise them like a mother, then you'll need to give them to her ASAP and give up on her hatching the eggs. How old are the chicks now? As long as they're only 2-3 days right now, it should work out fine-- you can look up more about slipping them in with her, but the general consensus is to wait until nighttime and then slip them quietly under her, removing the eggs, and then check up on them very early the next morning. Waiting until they're ~3 weeks old will not work- my chick here ended up kind of sleeping under the BO at night, and was fine with the cold, but never really ended up staying with her. Luckily, the broody was very tolerant, and didn't hurt the chick, but she would peck her when she could see her and never really mothered her either- she stayed broody on eggs for another three weeks until we just broke her off entirely.

Anyway, yes, she should be an excellent mother. Mothering instincts vary by chicken, but BOs are known as particularly good mothers, so odds are that she'll do well. If you want her to raise your indoor chicks, you'll need to introduce them as soon as you can, and if they're already 5 or more days old that might not work, anyway. If you decide to just let her hatch her own chicks and just raise those that works too, as long as you don't mind raising your current ones inside. Good luck with whatever you decide to do- I'd love to hear how it all works out

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thank-you for the great advice! The chicks in the brooder are about 6 days old, and she has been broody for about 5 days. from what you say sounds like it may be too late to give them to her to parent. But it's good to know that if any of her eggs successfully hatch out, she'll likely take care of them welly. i think i'll let her keep the eggs she has now. i have the space for both so it'll work out just fine.