Broody hen - will she accept 6 day old chicks?

[busylizzie]

Through a series of mini dramas - I have a broody outside sitting on fake eggs (recovering from red mites) and 7 chicks inside......3 are orpingtons which hatched yesterday and 4 are black silkies which hatched on Monday.....my ideal situation is that tonight - once the new delux coop and enclosed run has been finished I will put broody and add the babies in the evening.....and Happy Ever After.....

anyone like to comment on how likely you think this will be? OR if you have an alternative solution I would love to hear it.

Many thanks

 

[Mahonri]

Best to do it at night and then watch her like a hawk for the first few hours in the AM.

Sometimes they will accept the chicks as their own, sometimes they will kill them.

 

[cmom]

I agree with Mahonri!!!

 

[shelleyd2008]

I think it's more of a question whether they will accept her. A hen will take just about any small chick, as long as she doesn't have other babies, and they aren't too old. But chicks have to learn their mama's voice, which is why you'll often hear the mama clucking softly when the eggs are in the last few days of brooding.

You'll want to keep them locked up together for a while after you give them to her, so they learn who their mama is.

 

[Picky Chicky]

Don't forget to let us know what you decide to do, and ultimately if you do try it - what happens.

 

[JewellFarm]

Maybe it will work for you, but I tried it and it didn't work for me. Get up early to observe and see what is happening with them. Luckily I got to mine early before any damage was done.