Chick adoption?.

[MSGTJRC]

My wife and I presently have two hens, one black sex link and on Rock Island. We want to get 3 or4 more in the spring. My question, is there any chance our hens would adopt the new chicks as their own so we wouldn't have to keep them in the house the first 6 to 8 weeks?

 

[MSGTJRC]

Barred Rock not Rock Island

 

[azygous]

That's tricky. First a hen needs to be broody in order to be in a maternal mood to adopt chicks. Second, day old chicks are easiest to graft onto a broody. Third, the broody needs to be close to the third week of being broody in order to be receptive to live chicks under her. Fourth, it depends on the individual broody whether she's going to be willing to accept chicks.

All you can do is be mindful of the four rules, and give it a try and see what happens. But be ready to brood them yourself if things don't go as planned.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! Unless one of your hens decides to be broody, it's not going to happen. Also, the chicks need to be very young at the time, a couple of days old at most. It's still iffy, and if things go wrong, you could have dead/ injured chicks.
If you have room in your coop to have a separate area, fenced off with wire, and a chick brooder for the babies, having them out there when they are a couple of weeks old is nice. otherwise, wait until they are fully feathered, and then gradually introduce them.
Mary

 

[bobbi-j]

If you have room to separate them, you could even brood them in your coop. I haven't tried this yet, but here is a good (long) thread on one way of brooding them outdoors without having to worry about heat lamps: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/