Advice needed for hen adopting chicks.

[Raul Herrera]

on friday I had 7 chicks hatched out and I have a hen who went broody during the my incubator 2 week period. she's about to have her chicks in a few days on this friday and i want to give the chicks from the brooder to her with the chicks that she hatches out. Is this possible, and if so how do i get the hen to adopt the 7 chicks without killing them? This was my first time incubating and i really don't want these chicks to die but i want to have her raise them. If anyone can give me advice on how i can do this I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[sourland]

You can try slipping the chicks beneath her in the evening once her chicks have hatched. Monitor very early the next morning as the older chicks may not imprint on her. They generally imprint within a day or so of hatching, and they will be beyond that time frame. Also the larger chicks may pose a danger to the newly hatched chicks.