1st time chicken guy

Game Hens make very good mothers. They are extremely agressive towards anything that comes near. Even humans. But they will most definately kill your chicks if you try to put them together. Whether they are broody or not. They will kill another hens chicks even if they are broody at the same time. They are extremely protective of thier own brood. I know this from experience. I don't know how they know their own chicks from others but they do. I have tried three times over the years to introduce "other" chicks to three different hens that were already brooding a clutch and every time they were killed within 2 hours. I thought each time it may have just been a bad hen. I do not know why this is and there may be other breeds or people that have had it to work but I believe it is a strong instinct in them that causes this. I will never try it again with any hen. I thought as your dad does that because they are such good mothers that it would work but it don't.
 
I had no idea I was starting a major issue! Thank you to everyone who's given me advice. My father can be stubborn sometimes, but I'll make sure to straight him out. One thing is absolutely sure: My mother and I won't stand by and let him hurt innocent birds!

It sounds like not only is using game hens to brood chicks the worst idea on earth, but there is no way it could ever work because game chickens are just too mean (and we don't want mean chickens --- especially if they try to slash you to bits every time you get near).

I appreciate all the advice, and I will make sure my dad sees all you've suggested.
 
however, I will add this -- these chickens here free range, and while they scratch and dig at anything on the ground, they leave the plants in containers, alone

they do not mess with the basil or the rosemary or the mint or the passionfruit (must not taste good to them) and nibble only slightly on the nasturtiums and tomatoes --

there are lots of other sprouting weeds for them to eat --

so if you garden in smaller raised beds with chicken-wire over them, the chickens will eat all the bugs OUTSIDE the beds ...

or you could specialize in plants which climb up trellises, with a circle of chicken-wire protecting their bases

just some ideas which occurred to me -- however I agree with others that you would be courting disaster if you try to introduce "strange" chicks to hens ... these hens here keep their chicks well away from other hens until the chicks are nearly full grown

Candy
 

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