Can Non-Broody Hens "Adopt" Chicks**UPDATE**

[MesMama]

OK, thanks

I will try

Can't hurt to try, as long as you are ready to give the hen a little swat if she gets sassy

 

[rhondademulder]

Check out Miss Amy (foster Mom !)with her Meaties !!

 

[MesMama]

Check out Miss Amy (foster Mom !)with her Meaties !!

That is awesome!!!!

 

[MesMama]

Walked down to check on the littles and found this <3 The bigs sitting by the littles coop

 

[MesMama]

Well we decided to let 3 of the hens into the littles pen for a bit this afternoon We let the littles out of their coop for some outside time and the bigs were all at the fence, one was making that mama noise and picking at grass, a few of the babies were on the other side. So we let the 3 most interested hens in and it went well! One of the 3 was pretty sassy to the littles and even chased after one even after she pecked at it and the little scooted off, she followed but then it was over. You know how sometimes chickens just have that 'look' in their eyes, like some hens have sweet faces and others have not so sweet faces? Well the sassy hen has that not so sweet look, so we escorted her out of the pen and one of the other hens followed, which was fine. The one hen that was left still gave pecks when the littles invaded her space, so that was good. The littles have A LOT to learn about the pecking order

And the thought gives me anxiety, but I guess we will just do what we've been doing little by little and work our way into full integration.

 

[rhondademulder]

Well...well thats progress for sure ! So exciting to hear ...and yes the "meanie look" Im very familiar with ! Good luck and keep us posted !! Love to hear !!

 

[MesMama]

Will do! It's fun having the littles around for sure, BUT nerve wracking too LOL! Just want to do the best for them

 

[micah wotring]

Well, My turkeys and peeps came.
I am going to wait a couple weeks before introducing them to my adult hens.
One of my banty hens died as did my rooster so I am down to one banty hen.
We'll see
http://micahsfarm.blogspot.com/p/turkeys.html

Planing on trying to give the 6 bantam cochin peeps to a hen and raising the turkeys by hand.
I hope it all goes well.
I will update you guys when I try.
Micah

 

[SueT]

Well, My turkeys and peeps came.
I am going to wait a couple weeks before introducing them to my adult hens.
One of my banty hens died as did my rooster so I am down to one banty hen.
We'll see
http://micahsfarm.blogspot.com/p/turkeys.html

Planing on trying to give the 6 bantam cochin peeps to a hen and raising the turkeys by hand.
I hope it all goes well.
I will update you guys when I try.
Micah

Hi Micah, how did it work out? Let us know!
2 days ago I got 2 newly hatched chicks for my broody RIR, and she rejected them. I introduced them in the dark around 4 AM. But she had only been broody about 5 or 6 days--she wanted to kill them. And me. Now she's in the broody buster cage, day 2, still shrieking that warning trill, and I'm raising the babies indoors. This thread gives me hope that the others, non-broodies, may respond when the chicks are a little bigger and I can put them in a pen in the henhouse. I only have 4 hens, about 1 yr. old. I want to eventually integrate them all, and hope it's possible.

 

[MesMama]

I should update too ;D

Bigs and littles are fully integrated. One of my hens has taken these littles under her wing and it's awesome!