Adding chicks to Mama w/4 week old chicks?

[heybarb]

I have a broody mama (Sally) that happily adopted 4 chicks we put under her about 4 weeks ago. Her sister (Maisy) has been broody for 2 1/2 weeks and we excitedly bought 4 more chicks yesterday to put under the sister. Well, Maisy has rejected them two nights in a row. None of the chicks were hurt, but now I have 4 chicks in a box with a heat lamp - not what I want to do! Can I slide them under Sally with 4 older chicks tonight? I really think she'd take them, but I'm afraid Sally's used to being able to do more with the older chicks and little ones might be lost or left behind, or hurt by the other older chicks.

Anyone else try to do this successfully? Am I crazy for thinking this might work? Sally is a really great mama, this is her 2nd time with babies....

 

[heybarb]

It seems that Sally won't take them - not because I tried - but because tonight when I went out to see if I could slide them under her - she was sitting on a roost. Apparently she's decided her 4-5 week old chicks don't need her for warmth anymore. They were huddled up together on a different roost and she's back to being "close" to the top hen! Oh well! I might try the chicks one more time under Maisy tonight...