Chick advice needed ASAP! (adoption gone wrong)

[willkatdawson]

I have a tried and true broody who I placed 4 chicks under on 3/27/12. She always accepts them beautifully.
I have another broody, who's been broody for about 30 days,(4 years old & never been a mom) so yesterday I decided to get 2 chicks to place under her. At dusk, I put them under her, and I noticed she didn't "talk" to them like my other broody always does, and she would peck them every time they poked their heads out from under her. I left them under her over-night, but this morning, when I went down to see them, they were still under her. I took one out to let it get a drink, and she attacked it.
When she stood to attack that one, the one left under her was exposed and she attacked it. I really think she would have killed them.
The distress calls from the little chicks sent my broody with the 4 chicks running down to the coop (she was free ranging with her chicks). I know Millie would adopt them in a second, but my question for y'all is, have you ever heard of a mother hen adopting chicks of different ages. Her 4 chicks are about 3 weeks old, and the 2 new chicks are 4 days old today.
I put the 2 chicks on the ground in front of Millie and she tried her best to have them follow her to where she had left her older chicks in a bush.
If I placed the 2 new chicks under her tonight, and they began to think of her as mom, do you think the different aged chicks could blend?
Could it work?

 

[Remudamom]

I think it's worth a try. My good broody adopted 11, different breeds and ages. You'll just have to watch and see if the little ones get pushed around.

My broody was in a special pen with heat lamps to help. She couldn't cover all of them, she's a silkie, but she did a good job mothering them.

 

[willkatdawson]

Thank you Remudamom! I'm going to place the little ones under her when she comes in from free ranging this evening. Fingers crossed it goes well. Glad to hear it worked for you. How big of an age difference were the chicks in your case?
Mine are a little more than 2 1/2 weeks apart.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

My last broody ended up with 3 3 week old chicks (which she hatched herself), 5 day old chicks (which she stole from another broody) and a gosling (that was bigger than any of the chicken babies), and she did a wonderful job with them all. Shes my tried and true broody, just like your girl. I think she would take rocks if I could convince her they needed caring for. Good luck, I hope it works out for you!

 

[mbleily]

My last broody ended up with 3 3 week old chicks (which she hatched herself), 5 day old chicks (which she stole from another broody) and a gosling (that was bigger than any of the chicken babies), and she did a wonderful job with them all. Shes my tried and true broody, just like your girl. I think she would take rocks if I could convince her they needed caring for. Good luck, I hope it works out for you!

What breed is your good broody? I have been wondering what to get if I want a brooder. I have one silverlaced wyandotte that did go broody last year but I didn't give her any eggs and this year she hasn't gone broody.

 

[willkatdawson]

My last broody ended up with 3 3 week old chicks (which she hatched herself), 5 day old chicks (which she stole from another broody) and a gosling (that was bigger than any of the chicken babies), and she did a wonderful job with them all. Shes my tried and true broody, just like your girl. I think she would take rocks if I could convince her they needed caring for. Good luck, I hope it works out for you!

Did she free range with them all, or was she in a pen? My main worry is, the little ones just won't be able to keep up free ranging.
The older chicks are at the stage that the run full speed where ever they go. Maybe Millie will wait for the little ones.

 

[willkatdawson]

Well, bad news ... she did let them stay under her over night, but when one of the chicks came out from under her this morning she made an odd noise and started pecking it. I tried placing it among her other other chicks while they ate, and she still pecked it. I've got them back up in the laundry room under a light.
My next question is, if I raise these two chicks for a few days in the laundry room, and then put them in the broody closet in the coop by themselves with a red light, how long before they can join the flock? The closet has field fencing "walls" so the will be able to see the flock and the flock can see them. Obviously, it will be hard on them staying in the closet while the rest go out to free range. How old do they need to be before they can free range with the others.
We're planning on vacation at the end of June, and I really need for the flock to be all together so it's easier on my parents while they chicken sit. I can take them back to the lady I bought them from, but now that we've all worried over them, lost sleep, and of course feel sorry for them ... we've become attached. If I can get them to the point they can join the flock, they would have a wonderful life here.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

What breed is your good broody?  I have been wondering what to get if I want a brooder.  I have one silverlaced wyandotte that did go broody last year but I didn't give her any eggs and this year she hasn't gone broody.

She's a game hen, and probably the best broody I've ever had

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

   Well, bad news ... she did let them stay under her over night, but when one of the chicks came out from under her this morning she made an odd noise and started pecking it. I tried placing it among her other other chicks while they ate, and she still pecked it.  I've got them back up in the laundry room under a light. 
   My next question is, if I raise these two chicks for a few days in the laundry room, and then put them in the broody closet in the coop by themselves with a red light, how long before they can join the flock? The closet has field fencing "walls" so the will be able to see the flock and the flock can see them. Obviously, it will be hard on them staying in the closet while the rest go out to free range. How old do they need to be before they can free range with the others. 
We're planning on vacation at the end of June, and I really need for the flock to be all together so it's easier on my parents while they chicken sit. I can take them back to the lady I bought them from, but now that we've all worried over them, lost sleep, and of course feel sorry for them ... we've become attached. If I can get them to the point they can join the flock, they would have a wonderful life here.

Sorry to hear Millie didn't take the chicks. I would keep them in the closet until they're at least mostly feathered. There will probably be some pecking when you first let them out, but it shouldn't be too bad. Good luck!

 

[mbleily]

She's a game hen, and probably the best broody I've ever had

Thanks I am going to look into them and see if I can get them locally.