Advice for using broody hen as a surrogate?

[ckenny4]

Hey y’all.
We have a flock of 7 backyard hens, one of which is SUPER broody. We broke her once and she’s back at it... bare belly and all. We had wanted to expand anyway, so we’ve decided to go ahead and purchase some day old chicks and are going to let her raise them.
She’s plenty defensive and I’m not too worried about the others rejecting them, but I want to make sure we’re not forgetting anything.
She’s been brooding for weeks and today we set her up on the lowest level of the coop with some ceramic eggs and will probably leave her for another week before adding the chicks. She has hay bedding and the chicks will be able to get food and water. Anything else we’re missing? Or any other suggestions??
Thanks!

 

[hysop]

The sooner you introduce the chicks the better. So if you get them today you should put them under her tonight at night.

It’s not only for the hen to accept the chicks as hers, the chicks need to also accept her as a mother and that is more probable the younger they are.

 

[Artistanniekay]

Put them under as quickly as possible once they arrive! I’ve had great success doing this but you need to do it as soon as you get them