Brooding hen and chicks

[Genevaflocker]

I have a brooding hen without eggs. Can I introduce store bought chicks (two days old) to her to raise as her own?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Many people do. It doesn’t always work out but it usually does. If you get them you need to be prepared to raise them yourself.

Definitely get them as young as you can. You might want to talk to the feed store and see what day they arrive so you can get hem really young. That night after it is good and dark, slip the chicks under her using as little light and commotion as you can manage. Then early the next morning about the time the chickens wake up, check and see how it is going.

These things don’t come with guarantees but it usually works.

 

[Odelia]

I know that people have done this before. How long has she been broody? Is she sitting on anything at all? The best time to slip chicks under a hen is when it is dark. If she is sitting on anything take it out when you put the chicks in as if they have "hatched." Good luck.

 

[Genevaflocker]

Thanks for the replies. I tried as you described. Only I waited two days after I brought home the chicks because we had a cold snap and didn't want them exposed in case she rejected them during the night. I waited until it was dark, placed the chicks under her. She did have a golf ball that I did not remove at the time. The chicks made a lot of noise for a while and then things quieted down. I returned early in the morning before sunrise and found one of the chicks out of the nest. I placed it back in and waited until first light. Once the chicks started getting restless I noticed that the hen would peck at 'herself' in various areas and could hear the chick peep. I got concerned and lifted her to make sure all the chicks were still OK. At this point the hen started pecking at any chick that came near her. So, for their safety I removed them.

By the way she had been brooding for a couple of weeks. Now I have removed the golf ball and she continues to brood.