Broody or incubator ?

[Pollmadoll]

I have a dilemma. I am at day 16 with a shop bought egg and have a broody with eggs that are not developing so I am thinking of risking putting this one egg under my broody so the chick will have a mother. I have four, two month old chicks . The broody is in an aviary with a cockerel and one other chicken . My worry is will they attack the chick??

 

[Shezadandy]

I would make sure your broody hen and future chick be in an area inaccessible to the other chicken and the cockerel. I like to put mine in crates so they're not disturbed, letting them out once a day for food/water/dust bath/pooping.

**edited to add: when I say in a crate, I mean until the momma hen is ready to get up and leave the nest with her baby. I then have a separate secured area where the hen and chicks can see the flock but nobody can touch them.

I keep mine separated from the flock until the chicks are around 10 days old- because by then they're much more aware of their surroundings and have long enough get-away-sticks and instinct to get out of the way for the possible tussle with the other hen/older chicks/cockerel in establishing herself and her chick. Also - if you can get a 2nd chick so it will have a sibling- things will go much better when the momma hen weans the chick(s).

 

[Pollmadoll]

I decided to put the hatching chick under the broody and have closed off the nesting area with corn and water for the broody hen. Cannot wait for Friday when it should hatch. I already have four eight week old chicks waiting.

 

[Shezadandy]

My concern is the older chicks will be considerably bigger than this single chick and they've already got their own 'thing' figured out. They might not associate with her at all - and another 'wild card' is how long the hen will choose to mother the chick. I've had some that stop right at the 4 week mark - and others that keep going for a couple months. Having a friend of the same age/size when that happens makes things considerably easier for them when mom is done.

 

[Pollmadoll]

I know what you are saying the eight week old chicks were weaned by their mother at four weeks , ! So I have a other egg at five days in the incubator. Hopefully a future pal for the lone chick Ocado. Fingers and toes croosed for a successful hatch this Friday?

 

[Pollmadoll]

A few of the chicks