Can you give a chicken chicks if you don't have a rooster?

[chicken 86]

Could you let a hen lay on her eggs for a few days and then swap the eggs for the chicks? It might be easier than making/buying an brooder.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

I've done that but only with very young chicks (2 days old). If the chicks are older than 3 or 4 days old, they won't know that the hen is supposed to be their mama and will jump out of the nest box.

 

[chicken 86]

Would the hen be mean if you wanted to hold one?