Baby Chick Adoption?

[GalloNegrito]

Is there a way I can have my new hens adopt a few baby chicks?

I had a hen awhile back that recently hatched half a dozen chicks. I was happy.

Less than a day later, turns out she lost all but one. I let them roam free-range.

I had recently bought a rooster with two hens and put them in a coop, I had an idea of just "Testing The Waters" and put a chick beside the hens to see their reaction.

As expected, they looked at it in confusion for a sec, so far so good... Stepped in a bit, not bad... And then pecked at it. I removed the chick and gave it back to its mom and boom.

So is there anyway I can have them take care of them?

(Side note: I don't know if this matters but they're actually pullets, so perhaps they're not old enough yet and their "motherly instincts" haven't kicked in yet?)

 

[AustralorpsAU]

Usually a hen needs to be broody to adopt young chicks!

 

[sumi]

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of the other chicks. Let the broody and chick get to know the new arrivals together, so the broody can protect the chick from unfriendly attention. Many hens will not take kindly to chicks unless they are their own and they will not look after them unless they are in a mothering mindset, i.e. broody.