Broodies taking in chicks

[gimmie birdies]

I have 3 broodies. I gave 3, 6 week old chicks just now to a broody who is under one year, and 3, 4 week old chicks to another who is one year old both had never raised chicks, both were very willing to take the babies. my last broody, wanted the 4 week old chicks, I just don't trust her to not peck. She is 3. She is good at sitting on eggs though.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have given older chicks to hens before, but I do it at night, sometimes they only get nights for a while.

 

[NatJ]

Thanks for posting this! I have not heard of hens adopting chicks of this age, so it's interesting to know that it sometimes works (rather than never working.)

 

[Harmoni]

Why would a broody take chicks that old?

 

[NatJ]

Why would a broody take chicks that old?

Chickens do strange things sometimes. Maybe the broody just really wants to be a mother?

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have some take 4 week old chicks, but you have to know what you are doing.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I have 3 broodies. I gave 3, 6 week old chicks just now to a broody who is under one year, and 3, 4 week old chicks to another who is one year old both had never raised chicks, both were very willing to take the babies. my last broody, wanted the 4 week old chicks, I just don't trust her to not peck. She is 3. She is good at sitting on eggs though.

I didn’t think they would accept chicks that old.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I dont understand why you would even want a broody to take chicks that old. At that age my chicks are already roosting with the big girls and running around the run all day.

 

[Harmoni]

I dont understand why you would even want a broody to take chicks that old. At that age my chicks are already roosting with the big girls and running around the run all day.

That was my point as well. Like when I see 6 week olds still under a heat lamp

 

[NatJ]

I dont understand why you would even want a broody to take chicks that old.

I'm not the OP, but I can think of a few reasons:

--broody provides warmth for the chicks, which might be needed if the weather is really cold, or if the chicks are feathering slowly

--introducing the chicks to the rest of the flock (The broody could make this easier or harder, depending on the coop setup and how the other chickens react to the chicks.)

--makes the hen quit being broody

--person enjoys seeing hen with chicks

Of course, all of those things can be accomplished in other ways too. But I don't see any problem with having the broody hen adopt older chicks, if the person wants to, and if the hen & chicks cooperate.