Had a broody 8 mo. old hatchery RIR in December! I got her some fertilized eggs but, out of 7, only 1 hatched.
I decided to try to find chicks to try adding under her at night to see if she'd accept them as her own. After looking around I found a lady IN INDIANA WITHIN DRIVING DISTANCE that had some eggs hatch the same day, and the next two days after, my chick hatched. What's so cool about that is that she got her eggs from the same source I did - IN NORTH CAROLINA! That is pretty exciting and maybe even Providential!!! They are all Swedish Flower Hens.
I drove down and got 3 from her hatch and placed them on Dec. 31 after dark. Then I got up before dawn on New Year's Day to observe to be sure she'd accept them. I had a "plan b" setup to brood them myself if needed.
Mom has accepted them and is doing wonderfully with them. Temperatures are in the 20's and they are thriving with a very attentive mother!
