Can I give a broody hen live chicks?

[ChickenGirl555]

I was originally going to get fertilized polish eggs and slip em under one of my pullets when she goes broody, but the eggs would most likely break in shipment, so it's safer to get live polish chicks from our mill this spring.

I was wondering if I could still put the live chicks under her and she'll raise them? Otherwise doing integration will be much harder.

 

[MillersFarm]

Just so longer as they're no older then 3 days. I ordered 10 ducklings and put them under my broody Jersey Giant and she took them in the second I gave them to her.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Just so longer as they're no older then 3 days. I ordered 10 ducklings and put them under my broody Jersey Giant and she took them in the second I gave them to her.

Ooh...what’s wrong with over 3 days? We can’t time the broody hen and the chicks exactly so maybe 4-5 days? Or no more than 3 for sure?

 

[MillersFarm]

After day 3/4 the chicks start to get pretty big, You want to trick the broody making her think that she hatched the chicks on her own. When she goes broody give her a couple of eggs to sit on then order the chicks, After the chicks get there replace the eggs with the chicks. A broody will sit on her eggs for almost a month so I wouldn't worry about the chicks getting there to late. A great place called Mypetchicken Sells sexed Polishes for great prices. The hatchery is located in Ohio so it isn't too far away from where you live.

 

[lazy gardener]

After 48 hours the age in which a chick will imprint to a "mama figure" passes. So, even if the broody hen wants to accept the chicks, the chicks will pay no attention to her, and may not respond to her when she tells them to get under her for warmth, or to follow her to the food. While some chicks might accept a broody after the first 2 days, the chances of a successful fostering decline rapidly. It all depends on the specific birds involved. "Most likely" does not mean "always".

 

[ChickenGirl555]

A great place called Mypetchicken Sells sexed Polishes for great prices. The hatchery is located in Ohio so it isn't too far away from where you live.

Yeah I looked there, but it would be easier to just go to the mill which is less than 10 minutes away. I'll try to convince them about the ordering, but we also get to PICK OUT the chicks at the mill.

A broody will sit on her eggs for almost a month so I wouldn't worry about the chicks getting there to late.

I wasn't worried about her being broody, I was worried about the chicks from the mill being too old because they don't get day old chicks.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

After 48 hours the age in which a chick will imprint to a "mama figure" passes. So, even if the broody hen wants to accept the chicks, the chicks will pay no attention to her, and may not respond to her when she tells them to get under her for warmth, or to follow her to the food. While some chicks might accept a broody after the first 2 days, the chances of a successful fostering decline rapidly. It all depends on the specific birds involved. "Most likely" does not mean "always".

How about a Buf orpington mother with 2-3 chicks?