Baby Chick

[Ragladysews]

One of my hens started nesting on 2 eggs, I quickly added 4 more. I have 3 chicks out of the eggs. One of the chicks was hatched a week earlier than the other 2. I pulled the baby when I realized that the mom would not get off the nest to care for it. Can I now put this chick back with her? Will she recognize it or will she kill it as an intruder? I am trying to decide what is best for the lone chick.

 

[happyhens1972]

You could give it a try....maybe at night would be better so she wakes up with it there but you'll need to keep a close eye on things. It isn't just that she might reject (or even kill!) it but that it may not accept her as its mother and may be afraid of her.