Adoptive momma and chicks

[ChooksinIowa]

Wow, you sure do make it sound easy. I hope I'll be able to do that without losing a finger (or an arm...)!!

 

[megshenhut]

Well, it was actually pretty easy. This hen wasn't a biter when she was sitting. She would puff up and make lots of noise, but not bite. She only started biting a bit after she got babies, but only when I pick one up. Earlier this spring I did the exact same thing with a bantam cochin. I had shipped eggs under her and none hatched. I only had one of my own mixed breeds hatch in the bator and I put him under the bantam at night time the same way and she raised him perfectly.

 

[keljonma]

We waited until our broody went out to take a broody poo stroll and put the adoptive chicks in the nest box before she got back. She was a bit upset that she was away from the nest when her eggs "hatched" and a bit surprised (I think) that they all hatched at once. But she took to them like a charm.

 

[ChooksinIowa]

Now that's a smart (sneaky) way to do it!! What a surprise for her. None of my hens have tried to go broody yet. I only have had my chickens for about 3 weeks, or is it 4? Well, I started with 1 partridge rock, and now I have 17 total (10 chicks) with about 12 chickens soon to be adopted, and another 20 eggs on the way. I think I jumped in with both feet! But, I am hoping that one of them will go broody in time just so I can test this method after some of those 20 eggs hatch.

 

[megshenhut]

I hope it all works out for you.