Broody hen question

[Ecarroll]

So, this is my first time having a real broody hen ( one of my hens pretends to be broody for a couple hours then quits all the time) and I am debating giving her eggs or trying to break her broodiness. She is a golden sex link who is about a year old, currently sitting on a fake egg I gave her, and has been there since yesterday morning. Normally I would just let her sit, but we don’t have a rooster, so we would have to take some eggs from a friend. Anyways, my friend currently has chicks and she thinks all but one are cockerels, could I give my hen the week old chick? Would she except it?
And would it be lonely? Thanks for your help!

Here’s the chick

 

[Alexandra Runner]

I would say it would be a gamble trying to give a hen a week old chick. Even if she accepted it, it might not accept her. And it would definitely be lonely: chickens are very social birds.

 

[fluffycrow]

I've never heard of a broody quitting after a few hours. Days? Sure. Hours, no. Are you sure the other hen isn't just protective of the nest while laying?

She's been brooding for around a day and a half, then. Every hen is different when it comes to brooding, and each broody attempt is different. Some hens will accept chicks immediately; others won't.

I personally wouldn't risk giving a hen who has been brooding for less than 48 hours chicks, much less a chick that is over a week old. As mentioned above, there is a possibility that the chick won't accept the broody either.

You would not have any problems with loneliness; that just won't happen as long as mum is there, not to mention the whole group.

Your problems are of a different nature. She's been brooding for far too little, and the chick's been alive for a little longer than ideal. Working with chickens we never know for sure what the outcome will be, but I can't recommend you attempt this.

Buying and giving her some fertilized eggs is a much better alternative

 

[Ecarroll]

I've never heard of a broody quitting after a few hours. Days? Sure. Hours, no. Are you sure the other hen isn't just protective of the nest while laying?

She's been brooding for around a day and a half, then. Every hen is different when it comes to brooding, and each broody attempt is different. Some hens will accept chicks immediately; others won't.

I personally wouldn't risk giving a hen who has been brooding for less than 48 hours chicks, much less a chick that is over a week old. As mentioned above, there is a possibility that the chick won't accept the broody either.

You would not have any problems with loneliness; that just won't happen as long as mum is there, not to mention the whole group.

Your problems are of a different nature. She's been brooding for far too little, and the chick's been alive for a little longer than ideal. Working with chickens we never know for sure what the outcome will be, but I can't recommend you attempt this.

Buying and giving her some fertilized eggs is a much better alternative

Okay, I will take a few eggs from my friend for her to hatch if she continues to brood until tomorrow, thanks for the help. Is it not to late in the season for her to have chicks?

 

[fluffycrow]

Okay, I will take a few eggs from my friend for her to hatch if she continues to brood until tomorrow, thanks for the help. Is it not to late in the season for her to have chicks?

That depends on you, and your climate. Usually hens don't go broody when they know the conditions aren't right. If you wouldn't mind caring for chicks in Autumn and winter, then it could work, within reason of course

 

[Yardmom]

Moms keep chicks warm no matter what season. When my hens hatch in February it can be challenging to make sure there water doesn't freeze, but that shouldn't be a problem in September.
Someone commented about single chicks not being a problem. I can tell the difference in how a adult bird acts in the flock if it was a lone chick. At least in a large flock it is better if there are multiple chicks during the time between weening and laying.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My test to see if a hen deserves hatching eggs is where she spends her nights. There are all kinds of signs a hen might be thinking of going broody but until a hen spends two consecutive nights on the nest instead of in her regular sleeping spot she is not ready for eggs or to adopt chicks.

I agree, that chick is too old to risk giving it to a broody hen, assuming she is actually broody. Under three days is best.

And I was going to make the same point as Yardmom. The hen will not keep the chick company after she weans it. If you are going to add any I suggest a minimum of three. That way if one dies they still have a companion after it is weaned and before it is accepted into the main flock.

I'll include a link to a thread about someone hatching in the dead of winter when it was truly cold. Those are worse conditions than you will see.

Broody in Michigan Winter? | BackYard Chickens - Learn How to Raise Chickens

 

[Ecarroll]

Thank you guys for all of your answers, she slept on the nest last night, and if she does again tonight, I will give her 3-5 eggs to hatch.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think that is a good plan. Do mark the eggs with a sharpie, in case other chickens want to add to her clutch.

Also, plan on a 50% hatch. And of that 50% hatch 50% should be cockerels. I am not saying that she won't hatch 100%, but there is truth to the old adage, do not count your chickens until they hatch.

This is about to be the longest 21 days ever! But it is a very fun aspect to this hobby.

Mrs K