Broody hen with bought chicks?

[TheMainException]

I've had a very broody bantam hen for a while now. She might be part silkie or part polish or something...I have no clue. But she's been out of control broody. I just got 12 silkies and they are about 12 weeks old. Do you think the hen would be happy to raise these chicks or would she hurt them since they aren't hers?

 

[Chick15]

I am pretty sure she would help them, I heard a story about a silkie who was sitting on eggs, but then a horse snuck in and smashed all the eggs... The owner then got some silkie chicks as the mama hen didn't want to leave the barn where she was kept with the eggs. The silkie took the chicks like they were her own. I am not sure if that will definately happen, but i would maybe put one in there first, to see how she reacts...

 

[Happy Chooks]

At 12 weeks old, no I don't think she would mother them. Sure there are some rare examples that will mother anything, but not all that common.

 

[Caliphe]

At 12 weeks I think they're already past the mama phase.

 

[TheMainException]

Woah, must have accidentally hit the 1 there. They are TWO weeks old. yea, at 12, totally past mother stage. But I figured at 2, they might still give her something to do since she's not laying any eggs anyway.

 

[JLS]

My silkie adopted seven 4 week old chicks this year. I put them under her when it was dark. At first the chicks ran around peeping loudly. They didn't realize that the heat was under the hen

She started clucking and gently pecking at them to herd them under her. After a few tense moments everyone was happy. I've never seen my hen so happy!

It worked.

 

[countrychick14]

Neat!

 

[KYChixMama]

You can give it a try - my Silkie hen (involved in the above-mantioned pony incident) happily took chicks to her bosom. Still going strong, and she couldn't be happier. Though I introduced mine during the day, I think tucking them under her just after dark would be your best bet.

I also left a "dummy egg" under her the first day to encourage her to stay in her broody trance while the chicks became accustomed to her as well. Worked like a charm.

 

[TheMainException]

Alright! I'll give it a try. I'll let you know how it goes.