Adding chicks to a broody hen?

[ConchRepublic]

I'm getting a hen that just hatched 6 chicks today, thinking about getting a few more chicks of a different breed. Would it be possible for the broody hen to adopt them? Or would it be better if we just put them all in a brooder and let them be together and get human interaction? This will be a future breeding stock by the way. Also I wont be getting the hen with chicks till this coming 6th and probably wont be getting the others until that same day or later. Would that be too late to get them used to each other?

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

It will depend a lot on the broody. We have two hens that just love being mommies. This past year the one hen hatched 6 and we hatched 18 more in the bator. We put all 18 with her on the third day and she was fine with it. It was funny to see her with 24 chicks but she did good and raised them all. We have other broodies that wont let any new chicks in with them. you can try to put the chicks in with her by just tucking them under her as she is setting on the others. You will know pretty quick if she is going to take to hem or not.

 

[Bantimna]

I agree with PamperedPullet. I do not recomend you add chicks

 

[lcw]

i had one hen that took on 18 or so chiks all diferent ages at all diferent times. i think it was just a fluke becaus she has yet to do it agin. 6 sexlinks(2 months old),6 wyendotes(1 month old),2 bantie ester eggers & 1 bantie coachen(2 weeks old),and 3 standerd legnorns(2 weeks old).

all the above ages were wen i gave them to her to see if she wood foster them. the chiks never fighted wit each other and the hen kept them wit her for bout 2 more months befor tellin them to move on.

butt yes it depinds gratly wit the hen. sum will do it and others wont. just depinds. good luck.

 

[purpletree23]

Nope....would not recommend adding chicks. She might seem fine with it when you give her the chicks but the next day they will most likely be dead.

 

[jaboo81]

I would not do it myself!

 

[MIKE555444]

I have a BO mother that was great with her chicks and a wonderful momma hen. I added some that I hatched from the incubator (to her week old chicks) and when I stepped away she slaughtered every one of them(only the ones I added). I don't think she is a bad hen I just think she may have been protecting her own chicks.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

 

[ConchRepublic]

I'll keep her with her chicks but I'll put any new ones in a brooder. Thanks for the advise.