So here is my story. I have a friend who has about 50 chickens. They are 4-5 breeds of hens with a rooster to match. Well the roosters dont care who they mate with, so the eggs when hatched are a pretty mixed up bunch. All her chickens are free range and she sells her eggs. Each year she will donate a dozen eggs to the local schools for their hatching project. The chicks are then adopted. Anyways, I took 12 of her eggs to hatch this year. Out of 12, I had 7 hatch. At 8 weeks old they went out to the coop, and 3 days later were all killed by a raccoon. I was devastated. But I found my problem and got my coop secured, and started hatching more eggs. In the meantime my friend gave me a hen that couldnt seem to fit in there. All her hens were attacking her. Well once I got her here I noticed she was blind in one eye, and a very nervous chicken. Then I inherited 4 hens from my brother in law who thought it would be fun till he found out how much work they are! Well the first poor hen couldnt fit in here either. The hens attacked her constantly. I finally fenced off a small area in my chicken yard where she could be safe, and made an entrance to the coop just for her. Now it comes time for the babies to go outside. I was too afraid to just put them with the aggressive hens so I thought, I wonder if the lone hen would accept them. I took a couple days of bringing the babies out and placing them in the secure yard with her. At first she just watched them, and avoided them. No aggression at all. On the 4th day I decided to leave them over night. Then next morning all seemed well! The next day was completely different. When I opened the coop door to let them out, the hen came out with her feathers all in a ruffle! Then after watching for awhile it suddenly became very clear, she had adopted the babies!!! She was doing everything a momma hen would do. Finding them food and calling them to her. When ever the dogs get close to the fence or a loud noise, she would call them into the coop. It just completely amazes me!!! She is mothering 12 babies!!! She coos to them when they go to coop at night. She no longer roosts but will sleep on the floor with the baby chicks piled on top of her. She has found her purpose in life. I have been told this is pretty rare for a hen to take on chicks like this. Also considering they were 4 weeks old when I put them with her. Soon the babies along with the Momma hen will get to experience free ranging. I am not at all sure how these 4 bossy hens will do, but if they get aggressive again, they will either be re-homed or refridgerated! Here is a picture of Cora and some of her babies!
