Can I put my 3 week olds in a coop with a broody hen?

[mpguay]

I have a broody with eggs that will hatch in 20 days. I also have 6 3 week olds from a class incubator project.

Can I put them in with the broody? will the hen ignore them? what about when chicks hatch?

Please help.
thanks.

 

[bobbi-j]

She'll probably attack and possibly kill them. Adult hens usually attack babies that are not theirs. It would likely get worse when the chicks hatch. She'll be very protective of her babies and not want the others near them.

 

[Folly's place]

2x! She may also be so disturbed that she abandons her eggs. You could end up with one hen and little bodies... Plan to combine the two groups when she is fed up with child rearing; by then the babies will be closer in size and blend well. Mary