Chick adoption

[Buremu Sarapio]

My mother hen of 8 chicks just died 5 days after hatching its chicks, will another hen with 3 day old chicks adopt them, please help

 

[Perris]

That's really sad; condolences on the loss of your broody. The other one might adopt them, she might not; you cannot tell in advance. Some broodies will, others will hurt and possibly kill them. From my experience with broodies (not the same as your situation, but a variety of other mixing scenarios) I would try it, introducing all of them simultaneously to whatever area she and her chicks are in, and be ready to swing in to rescue them if necessary (probably easiest done by removing the broody and then her own chicks). Good luck!

 

[Pickles Party]

I'm so sorry about your mamma hen.
I have a momma with 3 chicks who kept tearing up her nest, long story short I had one that hatched a week later in the incubator. The next day I brought the new chick and her cracked shell along with a fake egg....took mamma out of nest so she could run around like a spaz for a few minutes while I placed new chick inside. When she heard her babies crying and I opened the door to let her back in. To her surprise there was a new fluffy chick with her week olds. At first she pecked at the shell then a few times at the chick. I removed the shell and she saw the egg I placed and decided to sit on it and the baby snuggled undermanned to stay warm. Although the chick is a full week behind her babies she is still doing well and its day 3. I have heard others sneak them in at night but I wanted to supervise the first few hours. Good luck, I think it will work...let us know! P.S. I removed the fake egg as it was just to give her the idea to sit still for a while since this baby was not up and scratching already like the others.

 

[Buremu Sarapio]

Thanks a lot am going to try sneaking them in & then monitor them to see if she accepts, I hope it goes well

 

[Pickles Party]

How did it go?? I hope she took them in.

 

[centrarchid]

How are things going? Even if not good yet, you can get them there.

 

[Buremu Sarapio]

It failed terribly so I had to make for a brooder for all chicks

 

[Pickles Party]

Oh no....that is too bad. I was really hopeful but I guess every hen is truly different with their own personality.
Good luck with the brooder, I have done it that way too and they grow so fast. So sorry about the momma.

 

[centrarchid]

It failed terribly so I had to make for a brooder for all chicks

For future reference, their are steps you can take to integrate most chicks with the majority of broody hens. I used to do fairly routinely with game hens.

 

[lizo97]

For future reference, their are steps you can take to integrate most chicks with the majority of broody hens. I used to do fairly routinely with game hens.

@centrarchid How do you do it? My broody had 4 chicks and I wanted her to accept some day old hatchery chicks, but she rejected them so I ended taking them all away. I noticed the stre-bought hatchery Australorps aren't as quick or smart as the other chicks. The Australorps just stand around a lot. Two days later, without any chicks, she is interested in the rejected chicks. I am tempted to see if she would take them in. Has anyone done something crazy like this?