Broody hen accepting surrogate chicks

[Daisythehen29]

Need some help! I have a very broody silkie who has been on a clutch of eggs for 2 weeks. I have four 2 day old chicks. She has never hatched chicks before, I really want to give her a chance to be their mama. What is the best approach? I have heard let her see them first, stick them under her in the dark, wipe them with a towel with her scent on it... what do you all have the best success with? Especially with a first time mama hen... I want them to be safe and not at risk of attack so want to monitor the process closely.

 

[Lisa G.]

I just did this last night. Here's how I did it: 1. I separated my broodie (first time mama) from the rest of the gang a few days prior. 2. Get broodie in a box that you can manage - i put mine in a low cardboard box. This way I could see what was going on w/ chicks. Also, you want to make one box edge low enough that if chick tumbles out it can get back in. 3. around 9 p.m. when it was dark I went out and tucked chicks quickly under each wing. my hen looked a little flustered at first but calmed down. I stayed there for about 15 minutes and she wasn't doing much so I went inside. Went out 15 minutes later and checked - all fine and quiet. Went out this morning to see a few little faces poking out through her feathers.

For you - since the chicks are already 2 days old I would do it tonight. Just make sure other hens can't get in and attack babies. That's why I separated them, although other hens can see into their cage. Let me know how it goes!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I'm assuming that eggs she's sitting on are either infertile or fake? They will sometimes sit for up to a few days to finish hatching but definitely not a week so I just wanted to make sure you weren't hoping to have her accept the chicks as well as still hatch the eggs she's sitting on.

As far as introducing the chicks, I have had success with removing eggs and slipping the chicks under the hens wings after dark. I didn't do anything in addition to removing eggs and placing chicks. It worked for 3 broody hens on the same night but it will really come down to your hen. Every hen is different and some just won't accept chicks whether they hatch the chicks themselves or not so I typically peek back in after a short time and to make sure everyone settles down together and then I get up really early in the morning to check on them again. Good luck!

 

[Daisythehen29]

I'm assuming that eggs she's sitting on are either infertile or fake? They will sometimes sit for up to a few days to finish hatching but definitely not a week so I just wanted to make sure you weren't hoping to have her accept the chicks as well as still hatch the eggs she's sitting on.

As far as introducing the chicks, I have had success with removing eggs and slipping the chicks under the hens wings after dark. I didn't do anything in addition to removing eggs and placing chicks. It worked for 3 broody hens on the same night but it will really come down to your hen. Every hen is different and some just won't accept chicks whether they hatch the chicks themselves or not so I typically peek back in after a short time and to make sure everyone settles down together and then I get up really early in the morning to check on them again. Good luck!

Yes infertile eggs! Thank you!

 

[Daisythehen29]

I just did this last night. Here's how I did it: 1. I separated my broodie (first time mama) from the rest of the gang a few days prior. 2. Get broodie in a box that you can manage - i put mine in a low cardboard box. This way I could see what was going on w/ chicks. Also, you want to make one box edge low enough that if chick tumbles out it can get back in. 3. around 9 p.m. when it was dark I went out and tucked chicks quickly under each wing. my hen looked a little flustered at first but calmed down. I stayed there for about 15 minutes and she wasn't doing much so I went inside. Went out 15 minutes later and checked - all fine and quiet. Went out this morning to see a few little faces poking out through her feathers.

For you - since the chicks are already 2 days old I would do it tonight. Just make sure other hens can't get in and attack babies. That's why I separated them, although other hens can see into their cage. Let me know how it goes!

Thank you! Did you separate her with the eggs she was on? I tried to move her with eggs to broody box but she hopped off of them and ran back to the old place... so I’m thinking I need to leave her in place, get her to accept them, then move the family...?

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Thank you! Did you separate her with the eggs she was on? I tried to move her with eggs to broody box but she hopped off of them and ran back to the old place... so I’m thinking I need to leave her in place, get her to accept them, then move the family...?

Many hens become attached to the location they selected and will run back to sit in an empty box rather than stay with their eggs. My first broody lost it when I moved her while she was still sitting on eggs and since then I haven't bothered with it again.
I have a docile flock so I haven't had any issues leaving my broody hens to raise their chicks with the rest of the flock. The hen will introduce and protect her chicks and takes the work out of integration for you but if you do decide to move her, the following morning should work just fine. Once they have their chicks they are usually more willing to part with the nest box.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

This is an image of my broody hen posturing to the other hens to not mess with her chicks. They were really just curious and wanted to see the chicks though. None of them were aggressive toward the chicks. Now that I've had several broody hens this year the flock is pretty much desensitized to newcomers and it barely seems to even faze them. lol

 

[Daisythehen29]

Thank you!! Now my next question- how can I tell she’s being a good mama once she has them with her?

 

[Lisa G.]

In my case it was pretty clear. One hen tried to attack babies. This one just sort of settled in. Also chicks were silent - no screeching.

 

[Lisa G.]

I'm assuming that eggs she's sitting on are either infertile or fake? They will sometimes sit for up to a few days to finish hatching but definitely not a week so I just wanted to make sure you weren't hoping to have her accept the chicks as well as still hatch the eggs she's sitting on.

As far as introducing the chicks, I have had success with removing eggs and slipping the chicks under the hens wings after dark. I didn't do anything in addition to removing eggs and placing chicks. It worked for 3 broody hens on the same night but it will really come down to your hen. Every hen is different and some just won't accept chicks whether they hatch the chicks themselves or not so I typically peek back in after a short time and to make sure everyone settles down together and then I get up really early in the morning to check on them again. Good luck!

yes - she was sitting on fake eggs. she had been sitting for about 19 days.