anyone ever put chicks under a broody hen?

[song of joy]

Yes. I did this last night with a buff orpington that had been broody and sitting on infertile eggs for 2 weeks. I put day-old hatchery chicks under her at night. By early morning she had pecked 2 chicks almost to death (they had to be put down), and the other 3 were huddling in the far side of the coop to stay away from her. This was a terrible, sad experience. I won't do this again unless I try it with a hen who has a proven record of being a good mother.

 

[Chicnsrthebest]

I did end up giving it a try with my Gold Laced Hen, and it's been a few weeks now, and she accepted all the chicks and they are all happy and healthy, growing like little weeds.

 

[omilona]

I happened to have a hen go broody EXACTLY 3 WEEKS before I was scheduled to pick up day-old chicks at an area hatchery. I put fertile eggs under her, so that her babies & the "imposters" were exactly the same age. She parented over a dozen chicks. I would not try to throw some feed store chicks under a hen that was broody for a few days. Mama hens and their chicks "talk" back & forth in the end stages of incubation. I got to see & hear that first hand, last week.

It is special & can't be discounted.

I have a broody sitting on 5 shipped bantam EE eggs and 7 more in the incubator. Should anything hatch *ha ha* in the incubator, how long do I wait to give it to Mama? While it's still wet? Wait a day? Keep it in the bator overnight? Last time I gave her shipped chicks when hers didnt hatch and it worked out pretty well. 3 out of 6 grew up.

 

[omilona]

It turned out to be a moot point as she killed and ate all three that hatched under her. There was no way for anyone else to get in or for her to get out. TIme for her to go.

 

[song of joy]

It turned out to be a moot point as she killed and ate all three that hatched under her. There was no way for anyone else to get in or for her to get out. TIme for her to go.

This is a late response to your post, but I'm really sorry about the way this turned out. From personal experience, I know that this is heart-breaking and maddening at the same time.

 

[gimmie birdies]

last summer I went to a farm that hatched out chicks. one was blind with no eyes. since I had a broody I offered to take it and give it to my broody. she sat on it and kept it warm, and I would stop by and feed it egg yolk a few times a day. the chick would come out from under the mom at feeding time when it heard me call. on day 6 mom squished it by accident though.

 

[kevinmccal]

I just tried to introduce some day old chicks to my hen that has been sitting for 19 days. Her eggs are due to hatch any day now. I removed her eggs and put them in an incubator for the final day or so. I did it at night, and tried to replace with chicks. Unfortunately, she killed 2 of the babies before I could get them back out. She wasn't having it at all. Any suggestions as to what I may have done wrong? I tried to be slick about it and not disturb her, but she is very protective of those eggs. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Kevin