Broody hen - can I give her day old chicks after just 2 weeks of sitting?

[madgeroonie]

Hi there, I have a broody hen who has been sitting well for 10 days on a rubber egg and I know someone who is having a hatching on Tuesday. Can I give her day old chicks when she has been only sitting for 2 weeks or does she need to have sat the whole 3 weeks and should I therefore get her some fertilised eggs instead? Also can I introduce the chicks if they are 2 or 3 days old or is it important they are only 1 day old? Thank you!

 

[Chloe+chickens=LOVE]

1 day old would be best you can give them to her once they hatch. Watch her for the first few minutes to see what she does

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

I’d give them to her as quickly as possible and put them under her at night or make her area as dark as possible then put the chicks under her. Good luck!!

 

[madgeroonie]

Fantastic. Thanks both of you for your responses. Great! I'll be picking them up on Wednesday! Exciting! x

 

[Chloe+chickens=LOVE]

Good luck

 

[Morrigan]

As far as age of chicks, anywhere between 1 and 3 days old is fine. Some hens will even take them older.

As far as her being broody only 2 weeks? It will depend entirely on her. I have my best luck when the hen has been broody at least 16 days, but I've also had one hen who accepted a chick after being broody only 5 days.

For what it's worth, my experience:

Hens broody over 16 days -- 4 out of 5 times success. The one rejecter was a real pill of a bird, and I eventually culled her for behavioral issues.

Hen broody less than 2 weeks: 1 out of 3 success.

I agree with the others, put them in at night. Also, when you insert them, don't show her the chicks, try to slip them in behind her, so she feels them under her first.

She will most likely start pecking when you put your hands near the nest. I use one hand to distract her -- I wear a glove and let her peck it -- and then use the free hand to quietly tuck the chicks in behind her. You can remove any dummy eggs at the same time. I usually put a broken egg shell in there with the chicks just to complete the illusion, but it's probably not necessary.

Good luck!

 

[madgeroonie]

Thanks for your info Morrigan. Great help. Chicks being picked up tomorrow and I have worked out she will have been sitting for 14 days by then so fingers crossed!