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

[micah wotring]

I have wanted a broody hen for as long as I'v had chickens but none would ever go broody for me.
Well I finally got one light brahma to go broody. She is sitting on several eggs so I decided to not try until the eggs hatch.
They should hatch soon and when they do I will add my chicks to hers.

If she rejects i will see if any of the others want them.

Anyway, I'm sorry I forgot about this thread, I will seriously try to update y'all.

MW

 

[MesMama]

@micah wotring Definitely update us

 

[MesMama]

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.  

The trick is integrate them gradually, so we put up a temporary "fence" that you can see in my pics above that allowed them all to see each other, then feed them beside each other (so put feed on both sides of the fence). Basically you want then to socialize and be familiar with each other before putting them all in together. Do that for a week or two is better. When you do put them all together have several food and water stations to help with the aggression that can come about when there's food present ;P

 

[SueT]

Thank you MesMama! I will definitely try your method! We have a big henhouse with plenty of room to do that. I am hopeful they can be part of the flock after all! Two littles by themselves seem pretty lonely.

 

[MesMama]

Thank you MesMama!  I will definitely try your method!  We have a big henhouse with plenty of room to do that.  I am hopeful they can be part of the flock after all! Two littles by themselves seem pretty lonely.

Yeah they will do great all together So much better/easier that keeping to separate flocks, unless that's unavoidable. Good luck! Let us know how it goes

 

[micah wotring]

The trick is integrate them gradually, so we put up a temporary "fence" that you can see in my pics above that allowed them all to see each other, then feed them beside each other (so put feed on both sides of the fence). Basically you want then to socialize and be familiar with each other before putting them all in together. Do that for a week or two is better. When you do put them all together have several food and water stations to help with the aggression that can come about when there's food present ;P

So, some were in this thread you said wait a couple of weeks and I thought you were talking about age.
Did you mean to have them like that with wire between them for a week or did you mean the chicks have to be a couple weeks old?

I know it's not like there's only one way to do it but I'm not sure what you were talking about.

Thanks
MW

 

[MesMama]

So, some were in this thread you said wait a couple of weeks and I thought you were talking about age.
Did you mean to have them like that with wire between them for a week or did you mean the chicks have to be a couple weeks old?

I know it's not like there's only one way to do it but I'm not sure what you were talking about.

Thanks
MW

Yes, sorry-so you want them separate with the fencing they can see through for at least a week, two is better You can integrate them as early age-wise as you want, some do as early as 3-5 weeks old, really depends on your birds.

 

[micah wotring]

OK, thanks

I understand integrating two flocks I was just wanting to have a hen raise the chicks instead of me.

So, I will put my three week olds out in the coop for several time a day and see if any hens are interested.

Thanks, everyone

MW

 

[MesMama]

OK, thanks

I understand integrating two flocks I was just wanting to have a hen raise the chicks instead of me.

So, I will put my three week olds out in the coop for several time a day and see if any hens are interested.

Thanks, everyone


MW

Perfect! Good luck and let us know what happens! I bet one of your hens will take the lead and raise em for ya

 

[micah wotring]

Hopefully