Can I place a single chick under momma with 2wk old chicks?

[CrazyChickLady64]

I have a momma with 5 babies that will be 2 wks old when I have one in the incubator hatch could I place the baby under momma do you think she will accept it? should I wait till the baby is a week or so old to do that? TIA

 

[SmiYa0126]

I think there's too much age difference.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Mama knows her chicks. Adding another it will be seen as an intruder/competition to her and her chicks.
Very rarely a hen will adopt chicks when she already has some a few weeks old.

I don't think it's a good idea.

 

[FrostRanger]

You're going to have to raise it yourself, hens don't usually take in new chicks once they left the nest. You'll have to get the chick a few friends though

 

[CrazyChickLady64]

Mama knows her chicks. Adding another it will be seen as an intruder/competition to her and her chicks.
Very rarely a hen will adopt chicks when she already has some a few weeks old.

I don't think it's a good idea.

Thank you

 

[Indio Gigante Lover]

How about adding a chick that was incubator hatched that is just 2 days younger? I have a hen that was sitting on just 1 egg, and it hatched 2 days ago. I had shipped eggs in an incubator, and just 1 of those hatched today. I'm sure the chicks would like to grow up together, but wondering what mom will think about it. I thought I might try placing 2nd chick under her at night. Do you think that might work? I'd want to give youngest chick a day or 2, until eating & drinking OK before trying that though

 

[FrostRanger]

If she already left the nest it probably won't. Hens know who their chicks are and will rarely adopt more once they leave the nest. Depending on her temperment she'll probably either chase the strange chick off or injure or kill it outright. I would just raise the chick yourself and get it a few friends

 

[Indio Gigante Lover]

OK, Thanks. I was wondering, as with a different hen's brood, there were 2 that hatched 1st, & then 1 late one. Mom had the 2 fluffy ones out while the last 1 was still wet & couldn't keep up. I took it in & warmed it up & kept it inside for 3 days before putting it back out with mom & all went well. It ended up inside for 3 days as I wanted to put it out when I was home to keep & eye on them. Maybe somehow mom sensed that it was her chick coming back

 

[TOR]

OK, Thanks. I was wondering, as with a different hen's brood, there were 2 that hatched 1st, & then 1 late one. Mom had the 2 fluffy ones out while the last 1 was still wet & couldn't keep up. I took it in & warmed it up & kept it inside for 3 days before putting it back out with mom & all went well. It ended up inside for 3 days as I wanted to put it out when I was home to keep & eye on them. Maybe somehow mom sensed that it was her chick coming back

Really depends on the temperment of the hen.

Had hen earlier her chick fell from nest (bout lifeless)and brought it inside, revived it.A day later I went and gave it back to her ( she hatched 2 more) she rejected it.

Just had hen hatch 2 and they both passed.brought her eggs in and within 24 hours 2 hatched, meanwhile I had taken 6 chicks out and the hen went and became a surrogate mother, I put the 2 new hatched at night with her and now she has 8 following her around.

My experience is when they leave the nest they are likely to reject any new chicks.

If I try to intergrate chicks with hen I do it at night, more times than any they will take the chicks. Just be there is the morning. If the hen rejects the chick it is possible she will kill it.