Can we add more chicks to a broody with chicks already?

[HorseFeathers]

Olympia's 8 chicks are exactly one week old and doing fine. She is a good mumma and is teaching them sufficiently. But our feed store has 6 EEs we would love to add in. They are about the same age, and pullets (supposedly). Do you think Lympy would accept them, if we put them under her overnight?

 

[RendonRoo]

I'm new to chickens but i've read post that went both ways. Seems to depend on what the hen wants to do. I would try it when you can keep a close eye on them for at least a few hours. Good Luck

 

[ROC4K]

I tried and failed with the chicks (midday)...I bet It would work after dark though. I didn't stick to it long. Good luck.

 

[HorseFeathers]

'Kay... after doing some research we've decided to hold out on them. If Olympia oes broody again this summer we may try, and there's always next year...

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

We add and move quite a bit. One broody hatched 6 and we put another 12 with her. Then added another six. Had another broody that hatched 5 and took 10 from the first broody and moved them to the second broody. Had a 3rd broody that all her eggs were duds so as we took the eggs out we replaced with day olds and she was very happy. we just add and move at night.

 

[omelette'smom]

I'm glad you had success! However I had the most beautiful black spotted yellow chick up until the other day when it got into another broody's pen. She pecked the poor baby to death.

It was less than a week old like her own hatchlings were. So it really does go both ways. I can put a chick from the "evil one" into the other mom's pen and she'll start showing it how to scratch and eat. But this witch.......