Broody and 8 babies from TSC

[annampet]

So we have our first broody, a Buff Orpington. She is a 3 YO in a flock of 7 (no rooster). We recently decided to rotate our flock out because our egg production has been low (4 per day on average, I got 2 today) so I purchased 8 babies at TSC today.
I don't really have a way of separating the broody to let her raise the babies, nor do I know if she'll be a good mama. I do know she is the nicest of the flock, she's the one that will come up and talk to me when I go to the coop or run and I'd say she's middle of the flock.
So, do I stick the babies under her and just see what happens? Risking the other hens? I have a large dog crate I can put in the coop, I can put her in it tonight, with the nesting box and put the babies under her. But I think she'll be upset if she can't get out with them in the morning....?
Or do I break her and raise the babies until they are big enough to integrate and we start culling the older ones?

What would you do?

 

[DobieLover]

So we have our first broody, a Buff Orpington. She is a 3 YO in a flock of 7 (no rooster). We recently decided to rotate our flock out because our egg production has been low (4 per day on average, I got 2 today) so I purchased 8 babies at TSC today.
I don't really have a way of separating the broody to let her raise the babies, nor do I know if she'll be a good mama. I do know she is the nicest of the flock, she's the one that will come up and talk to me when I go to the coop or run and I'd say she's middle of the flock.
So, do I stick the babies under her and just see what happens? Risking the other hens? I have a large dog crate I can put in the coop, I can put her in it tonight, with the nesting box and put the babies under her. But I think she'll be upset if she can't get out with them in the morning....?
Or do I break her and raise the babies until they are big enough to integrate and we start culling the older ones?

What would you do?

How long has she been broody? That will make a big difference on the chances of her grafting to the chicks.
How old are the chicks you got from TSC?

 

[annampet]

How long has she been broody? That will make a big difference on the chances of her grafting to the chicks.
How old are the chicks you got from TSC?

I noticed her spending a lot of time in the nesting box earlier this week. So I'd say she's been broody for 3ish days.
The chicks I purchased today arrived at TSC on Wed or Thursday.

 

[DobieLover]

I noticed her spending a lot of time in the nesting box earlier this week. So I'd say she's been broody for 3ish days.
The chicks I purchased today arrived at TSC on Wed or Thursday.

That's not long enough to convince her she hatched them. I would not give her the chicks.

 

[annampet]

That's not long enough to convince her she hatched them. I would not give her the chicks.

Thanks for the quick reply. Guess I’ll put her in a cage to try to break her tomorrow and just raise the chicks

 

[pennyJo1960]

Have to agree if I do that need to have broddy on egg at least a week
I do those things with my silkie. Recently did it with my giant blue cochin she was in her first broody had 12 days on eggs

 

[MarkJr]

Sounds like you’re committed to buying 8 chicks. Slide 2-3 under her the night you bring them home. Daylight next day see if she accepts them. If so, slide the rest under her and remove any eggs.

Watch close, and hopefully she goes full momma hen.

My broody was never separated from the flock. They’re 5 weeks along now and she hasn’t missed a beat.

 

[MarkJr]

Sneak them under her to be safe. Get her pissed at one hand and work quickly with the other.

 

[loreligillett]

One time I placed a lone chick with my non-broody silkie hen (I supervised them together to make sure the hen didn’t hurt the chick). It took a day, but she ended up caring for it like it was her own. This hen had never been broody and had never cared for a chick before.
My opinion would be to place the chicks under the hen. If she takes them then great! I loved watching my mother hen and her chick bond, it was a fun experience! Maybe make a separate enclosure, away from the rest of the flock, for the hen and chicks, just until the chicks become a bit less fragile.

 

[DobieLover]

One time I placed a lone chick with my non-broody silkie hen (I supervised them together to make sure the hen didn’t hurt the chick). It took a day, but she ended up caring for it like it was her own. This hen had never been broody and had never cared for a chick before.
My opinion would be to place the chicks under the hen. If she takes them then great! I loved watching my mother hen and her chick bond, it was a fun experience! Maybe make a separate enclosure, away from the rest of the flock, for the hen and chicks, just until the chicks become a bit less fragile.

And then there are these hens:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broody-hen-killing-hatchlings.1396623/

It's not worth the risk to the chicks.