Can Non-Broody Hens "Adopt" Chicks**UPDATE**

Date sort Score sort
azygous said:
What a sweet little family group! I must say, you lucked out. This is rare.

Summer before last, I had an older hen adopt three chicks. The chicks happened to be six weeks old and not in the need of a broody, but Su-su volunteered anyway. Here's the interesting part. She appeared to have been stimulated to go broody by the presence of the chicks in the run.

Su-su nurtured the three chicks until they were nearly four months old. It still has me marveling over it.

It will be interesting if your pullet develops broody hormones and continues to care for the chicks. You'll know it if you hear her communicating with the chicks in the typical broody "popping" vocals. Please do keep us posted!
Click to expand...
Oh this is interesting, exactly what I was wondering about.
I recently introduced 4 10 week old pullets to my flock (of 3!) - separated by a net fence for now. Suddenly the silkie cross has become broody, and I wondered whether the chicks might have stimulated that. I'm in 2 minds about getting her some fertile eggs (risk of cockerels that I do not want), so was wondering whether she might bond with the babes, who are growing fast. Could that satisfy her broodiness?
I'll put her with them tomorrow and see how all react (supervised). She is definitely making calling sounds for food as if she already has chicks, but I haven't noticed her showing any direct interest in the new girls.
 
Kalamani- How did your Silkie do with the chicks? I'm just curious
smile.png


I tried to brood 3 more chicks with Henny Penny (and her adopted babies, too), but no one would take to my new chicks.
sad.png
So now I am keeping them in a broody box in my basement. I guess I got lucky with my first 3 babies!
 

Similar threads

S
Not a broody hen
Replies
2
Views
136
Sarahnade72
S
T
Broody hen and older chicks in same pen?
Replies
1
Views
69
NatJ
NatJ
F
Supplemental heat for broody + chicks
Replies
5
Views
313
DobieLover
DobieLover
I
    • Love
Broody, the serial chick collector — issues?
Replies
5
Views
908
LaurenRitz
LaurenRitz
F
    • Like
How do I take two hens chicks?
Replies
6
Views
123
FarrFreshEggs
F

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom