Can A Hen Be Fooled?

[BroodyCluck]

I purchased this laying hen a while back and it is a mixed breed. I bought it with another laying hen which was a Road Island Red and the seller told me she was unsure of the breed of the first one and only knew it had some RIR in it at least. It lays a nice big brownish-red egg the same as the RIR. The two new hens were closely bonded at first but the RIR teamed up with another loner RIR I had and sometime after that the mixed breed was rejected by it's life long pal or sister, all of my other hens pick on this one here shown on my avatar picture relentlessly without mercy, because it is different, I suppose. I do see my chickens prefer to be with their own kind leaving this chicken all alone. They picked on the loner RIR I already had before the time that this other one was added. The old RIR and new RIR immediately got along when I first added them and even gave no problem to the mixed one. However, they later rejected the mixed breed. Anyway that is not what I am writing about but just mentioning it.

This chicken shown in the picture has began brooding. She is currently sitting on 8 eggs now for a week today but the problem is, they are sterile eggs because I do not keep a rooster. I just let her sit without disturbing her because, really she needs a break from the harassment and looks so calm. I intend to order about 8 new biddies anyhow and I was wondering if it would work to put these biddies under her in the night and remove her eggs? I would hope that she would accept them as her new hatchlings. Does that sound possible?

 

[curious chickee]

Many have done that, started with false eggs than after a couple weeks slipped in day old chicks. Most of the time it will work, but have a brooder ready just in case. Keep a close eye on her that first morning to make sure she accepted the chicks. You could also buy fertile eggs or get some from a neighboring farm or breeder.

 

[Mrs. K]

It will work, but you need to be close the the 3 week broody time, a few days either way are no big deal, but you need to be close.

Do not worry about removing the eggs, just take down freshly hatched chicks in the dark. If they came in the mail, give them a drink first. Don't worry about feeding them. And this sounds a bit heartless, but let them get a little cool, that make them peep. Let her listen to them for a few minutes, not long. Put a towel over her head so she won't peck you, just place a chick on her back. The chick will just disappear, and the movement under her, will trigger the response to shift from being in a broody trance, into a broody mother. Slowly add the rest of the chicks. Now some may crawl out, and she might give them a mighty peck. Many people bail here, and take the chicks away. Just get tough hearted, and leave them to work it out.

Don't lock her in, don't worry if the nest is a few feet off the ground. Just go to bed and check in the morning.

A hen and chicks is a great deal of fun and none of the work. If your broody hen was low on the totum pole, you might want to lock out the layers til daylight. then let them free range to get them out of the way. Mine always leaves the unhatched eggs, and creates a new nest on the floor.

Feed everyone chick feed, add oystershell for the layers, the chicks won't eat it.

MRsK

 

[BroodyCluck]

I realize I am late getting back to this but I now want to say thanks for the replies. And to report that it was a success putting 7 biddies with her.