Adding new hen to 2 week old chicks

[CKNNWBEE]

Hello, please advise. Will a stranger hen raise these chicks. Like keep them warm, watch over them?

 

[ChickensRDinos]

If a hen is at the very end of her broody cycle and has been sitting on eggs you can sometimes trick her into thinking she hatched the chicks if they are only a day old. Silkie hens can sometimes but convinced to mother anything.

But, in most cases this will not work and the hens will peck and bully the little ones. Best to keep them apart until they are closer in size.

 

[CKNNWBEE]

I was hoping that a 'mother hen' would just want to mother these ones, but they are two weeks and its not a Silkie.

Thank you.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

You can always put them together in a very controlled and supervised setting and she how she reacts. I kind doubt she will but you can see.

 

[CKNNWBEE]

This hen would be unknown to us too, and I am an overcautious new 'mommy'.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I wouldn't do it. Just use a warming light to keep them warm. Make sure they have room to get away from the heat if they need to so they can't get overheated.

 

[Eggsoteric]

As a precaution, any new birds added to your flock should be quarantined away from your existing birds for a minimum of 30 days (45 days is better). I wouldn't put the hen in wth your little ones.