adding baby chicks to broody hen?

[paparootzi]

About 3 weeks ago I slipped 12 chicks under a broody hen w/in 2 days because it's depressing to see them sit there forever when I just keep taking eggs from them. All went well! It got her out of the nest and she was just happy being a momma again, (but she had already been one before.)

My question is this: I had another hen turn broody for the FIRST time about 2 weeks ago and so I got her 4 chicks to take care of. I was planning on sticking them under her tonight. I'm worried that since it is her first time she might hurt them?

Also, another hen in the same pen started sitting a couple of DAYS ago but this one has also been a mom before and there is a roo in the pen.

I thought about putting 2 under both of them or would the one that just started sitting "know" that those can't be her babies because it's too soon?

I'm just hoping someone has done this before and can tell me it would be OK.

I wasn't sure if this is a COMMON thing to do or if I just got lucky the first time?

 

[jennh]

Last year I had a broody sit on fertile eggs I had gotten from a friend. She hatched them out. It was so cute to see them together ! Meanwhile, another hen went broody, and I kept trying to break her. She killed the chicks!!

jen

 

[paparootzi]

So, should I take the first timer that has been sitting for a couple of weeks and put her in a dog kennel to seperate her and THEN put the 4 chicks w/ her?

As for the one that has only been sitting for a couple of days, I could just wait and get some more chicks for her later. Her previous owner had her have quite a few clutches and she is a really good momma. She is a game hen and I was told they make good mammas.

I just don't want to let them sit on EGGS to hatch because I don't want anymore roos. I already have 8 that are in seperate pens w/ seperate harems of hens and I don't want to have to build anymore pens!

But I wouldn't mind having more hens so I would like to let the broodies take care of the babies as if they hatched them out themselves!

 

[jennh]

Quote:
You need to keep the chicks separated from the other hens or someone will kill the chicks. Why do you want to put chicks under a hen? Don't you have a box and a heat light that you can raise them yourself? I have done this 4 different times. It is not hard at all, and the chicks really attach to you and become quite tame.

Jen

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
You need to keep the chicks separated from the other hens or someone will kill the chicks. Why do you want to put chicks under a hen? Don't you have a box and a heat light that you can raise them yourself? I have done this 4 different times. It is not hard at all, and the chicks really attach to you and become quite tame.

Jen

The nice thing about putting chicks under a hen is that you don't have to worry about whether you have the heat right, etc. I have 8 chicks under a hen right now. She's a great mama.

 

[paparootzi]

Yeah, I also liked it when it got my other broody hen off the nest and she seemed happy being a momma again. It's like they "need" to be a momma sometimes and when I wouldn't let her hatch her own eggs, she would get mad at me when I took them and I just felt sorry for her.

So, since it worked once, I'll try it again and watch closely before leaving them alone and if it doesn't work out I can always raise them myself!!! I think it just depends on the hen.

 

[chilehd]

Hi,

We have a broody RI Red that has been sitting on six eggs for the last two weeks. The day after tomorrow we will receive 18 chicks from the the Cackle Hatchery. We are hoping to put the new chicks under the broody hen when they arrive. I am sure hens don't count their eggs before they hatch and we are hoping that if we place the chicks with the hen in the dark she will accept them as hers in the morning. Considering that "her" eggs are near hatching she can have them too. I know two dozen chicks is a lot, but we are keeping them in a stock tank for the first week or two than to a seperate enclosure, so they will stay warm.

When you introduce your chicks to the hen when do you do it, at night or during the day. Where are they hatched?

Thanks and have a nice day!

 

[Ms Miami]

I'm curious about this. I've got two BO's, one has been broody and unbreakable. (I've always regretted getting just two, when I have room for up to five.) I considered getting fertilzed eggs, but it's late December and I have had trouble finding them in season. Added with the fact I'm in the city and don't want a roo. So I've been looking into the idea of adding chicks under her at night. Does this really break a broody hen? Or will she kill them? My other hen is at the top of the pecking order, she is very bossy and doesn't like the other one being broody, she pecks at her hard until the broody one unruffles her feathers. I figure I may have to separate the chicks until they are bigger & I can add them to the flock. Any advice?