Can I add one day-old chicks to a flock?

[SqueakyRoseShalom]

heya all!
Question1- I have a broody hen who has chicks that will be two weeks old on a day when I’m getting new baby chicks. Can I add the baby chicks to the flock? Will mama hen protect them or will they get pecked and trampled to death? If the answer is yes, I can add them, then...

Question 2- Mama hen already has five chicks. Can I add 4-5 more or is that too many for her to take care of them? THANKS to all of you who respond! I appreciate you tremendously!

 

[grayjay11o]

I probably wouldn't, since she already has older chicks she might peck them or abandon them. Depending on what breed she is she might be able to take 10 chicks if they were all the same age.

 

[Loudy]

DEFINITELY NOT!!!!!!
If you try and add baby chickens to an entire flock, the older chickens WILL seek them out as younger/weaklings and certainly kill them.

At a store, you could buy a box for them and give them plenty of time outside. The size of the box depends how old the chickens are and how big they are. At a couple months old, separate the coop for 1 half and 1 for the other, older chickens. Once they are used to each other being around, you can let them interact with the other chickens

 

[rosemarythyme]

Unlikely in either scenario that the hens would accept additional chicks. If you added them just as the others hatched that'd probably stand the best chance of working.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Snowballs chance add 2 at night if they are alive in morning add the rest next night
good luck

 

[Alaskan]

heya all!
Question1- I have a broody hen who has chicks that will be two weeks old on a day when I’m getting new baby chicks. Can I add the baby chicks to the flock? Will mama hen protect them or will they get pecked and trampled to death? If the answer is yes, I can add them, then...

Question 2- Mama hen already has five chicks. Can I add 4-5 more or is that too many for her to take care of them? THANKS to all of you who respond! I appreciate you tremendously!

I have easily added chicks a week after hatch... the key is letting the newly hatched get peppy enough to run after mom.

And usually the new chicks have to be the same color as the chicks mom already has.

A 2 week difference is a bit more of a problem.

Each hen is different.... I always add during the day, sneak the new one or ones under her...and watch for 10minutes.

Either she will take them or not.

If not then you are stuck with them until they are old enough to add to the flock (probably 2 months of age).

I had one broody once that would mother anything.... at any age... and once brooded over 20 chicks perfectly.

 

[pennyJo1960]

@Alaskan They have not died or your there to save them huh doing at night was the only way I kept them alive

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I would be afraid the chicks that is already with momma hen will peck the new chicks and injure them, not to mention momma hen and the rest of the flock not taking kindly to strangers.

 

[Folly's place]

I think it's likely that the new chicks will all be killed, and wouldn't chance it.
Mary

 

[janiedoe]

I've been there, done that, it didn't work out.
Mama hen didn't want more chicks, so I set them up in a brooder next to her. (She was my top hen) After 3 weeks they were running all over the run. She wouldn't let them next to her but she wouldn't let the other hens bother them either. They did bond with her chicks but never with the broody.

If you have the room & are in a nice climate you could brood them in your coop (in a cage, where the hens cannot get to them), it makes it so much easier to integrate them with the flock.

As for giving them to your broody, It probably depends on your hen's personality. I personally wouldn't leave them alone with her. While she might not injure them herself, she probably wouldn't protect them from the other flock members.
I wish you luck whatever you decide.