broody with feed store chicks?

[NicInNC]

I have a silkie that is pretty much broody all year long. She's got a bit of OCD I think. I have never had trouble putting chicks under her. In fact, she gets so excited that she "talks" for hours and is a perfect mommy! I'll be getting some more chicks in a few weeks to put under her to break her from her broodiness since she's been that way all winter.

 

[rSpriggs]

Quote:
How did it work out?

 

[pixiedouglas]

I've read you should wait until closer to the 21 day mark to fool the hen. However, I had a friend with a broody silkie. She'd only been broody about a week and they slipped two chickies under her at about 4 am in the morning and it went perfectly. You should do it right before sunrise for best results, that way if she wakes up and rejects you still have time to rescue the babies and brood them yourself. If you give her chicks at night after bed and she wakes and rejects, then they'll be dead by morning for sure. Good luck!

 

[tommboy1973]

Quote:
How did it work out?

It went great! Momma took right to them and raised them up. I had been keeping Mom and chicks separate at night but letting out to free range together with the rest of the flock during the day. Last week, when the chicks were about 7 weeks old, Momma went back to the coop with the rest of the hens as the sun was going down. The chicks still come out to free range with the rest but they go back to their own pen at night. I am hoping one day they decide to stay in the big coop too.

Incidentally, when Mom was out with her chicks she would fiercely defend them from the others, and now that she is back in coop her status is elevated from what it was before.

I will post some pis if I remember how!

 

[tommboy1973]

the chicks loved to jump up on her back!

I'll try to get some recent pics and post later.

 

[nuttyredhead]

I did this. She (Blizzard) had been broody longer, but it worked. At first i was skeptical and a nervous wreck thinking she was going to kill them! But she took them and is raising them!If you try it, keep a close eye on her, be ready to intervene and get them away if needed! Good Luck!

 

[Chickenaddict]

I bought 3- 2 week old mottled cochin bantams for a hen who had hatched out ducklings for a friend of mine (ducklings went back to friend soon as they hatched) Having felt bad for her I got the chicks so she could raise them. Well guess what? She didn't accept them however another hen who had also ust hatched out ducklings took the cochins right away, they are now 5 weeks old and still with the hen. SO yes it does depend on the hen, what I have noticed here is the ones who go broody the most are the ones that willl take any chicks and raise them up.

 

[Amy Chickie]

Last night I slipped three chicks under my hen and at first it went really well! But this morning she didn't want anything to do with them. She's not aggressive toward them, but she's also not interested in them. So I brought them back inside to the brooding box. Now I'm trying supervised visits so hopefully she'll accept them quickly even if she doesn't raise them. If she starts to act aggressive then I'll stop the supervised visits and let them interact through a barrier.

 

[tommboy1973]

Amy Chickie- That's too bad! How long had she been broody?
Good luck with getting her used to them.

 

[rSpriggs]

Lotsa great informative posts - Thanks!
Russ