Adopting babies for our broody

[beezerbrit]

POST EDIT/UPDATE: We couldn't hack it and I was too nervous about it and we just determined to break her of her broodiness one of the other ways we have tried 500 times.
We are on our way to pick up some 6 day old chicks. We are hoping that our broody will adopt them. Any tips or general advice you all can give me? I'm really concerned that these babies won't make it. Do we need to separate mom and babies from the rest of the flock? Her nest of choice is in a corner of the coop. I'm also worried if I put them under her in the night that they will get out and one of the other chickens will kill them, OR that she will wake up and kill them before I can get out there to monitor. I joked with my husband I would just have to camp out in a sleeping bag next to the coop. But I am really worried about these babies! I want them to live and I want my freaking broody girl to just chill out a little! HELP PLEASE!! Thanks all

 

[50-45-1]

Has your broody been sitting for close to the three week period?
If not dont do it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

6 1-day-olds or 6-day-olds? If the latter, they might be too old to easily graft onto her.

 

[Tamdog]

Never done it, but researched it for the time when one of mine goes broody. I spoke to three different hatchery's and here is my take away;
1. Make sure your hen has been broody for at least a week.
2. Put the babies under the mom in at night and listen. Do not shine a flash light on the mother. You will hear some soft clucking and a tiny bit of cheeping but things should settle down with no noise. IF there is any fuss at all she has not accepted them. If the babies do not get quiet or any activity occurs take them out. If all goes well check on them a time or two that night,
3. The mothers will do everything from then on out.

 

[beezerbrit]

Has your broody been sitting for close to the three week period?
If not dont do it.

Yes at least that. She is acting insane and getting worse. Hissing, fluffing, pecking at us when we move her, all of it. We are using a piece of wood to pry her off the nest right now.

 

[beezerbrit]

Never done it, but researched it for the time when one of mine goes broody. I spoke to three different hatchery's and here is my take away;
1. Make sure your hen has been broody for at least a week.
2. Put the babies under the mom in at night and listen. Do not shine a flash light on the mother. You will hear some soft clucking and a tiny bit of cheeping but things should settle down with no noise. IF there is any fuss at all she has not accepted them. If the babies do not get quiet or any activity occurs take them out. If all goes well check on them a time or two that night,
3. The mothers will do everything from then on out.

That is kind of what we were planning on doing. They are going from the owner's broody hen to mine so she thinks that they should be just fine going from one crazy mom to another crazy mom.

 

[beezerbrit]

6 1-day-olds or 6-day-olds? If the latter, they might be too old to easily graft onto her.

4, and they are 6 days old, been sitting under her broody to go to mine. If they dont attach thats okay, we tried, I just don't want them to get killed...

 

[rosemarythyme]

I guess you can try it and hope for the best (and have brooding equipment ready if you need to take over). If the hen takes them, her instincts should be to protect them from the other adults.

 

[50-45-1]

Ok, pick the freshest chicks they have. Day olds work best, older chicks may not bond to your broody.
Pick up chick starter, and a chick waterer while you are there if you dont already have some.
After dark and i mean black of night, put chicks under her and make sure to remove all eggs, real or fake from the nest. You dont want her to stay on the nest trying to hatch something while these new chicks need her to take them out to eat and drink.
Your broody sounds like a ferocious one and will not allow the oyher chickens to mess with her or them.
Does your coop have a ramp?

 

[50-45-1]

they are 6 days old, been sitting under her broody to go to mine.

I had a broody hatch one chick a couple years ago and she lost interest when the chick was 4 days old. I tried to give it to another broody one night that desperatly wanted it. The next day the chick recognised the voice of its origional mom from afar, and would not stay with mom # 2. It was sad to see mom # 2 running after the chick trying to entice it to stay with her. Mom number 1 eventually let the chick die in the rain while i was at work.
Broodies talk and coo to their chicks when they are still in the egg. They know her voice. These 6 day old chicks may not recognise your broody as serigate mom.
Be prepared to raise them yourself.
Good luck and let us know how it works out.