Combine hatchery with hen-hatched chicks?

[buckbuck]

We're expecting a small clutch of eggs to hatch on Sunday or Monday. I've also ordered some day-old chicks from a hatchery which are expected to arrive Monday. Do you think I can slip the hatchery babies under the mama hen once her chicks have started to hatch? She obviously can't count - I've found her on other nests with fewer or more eggs than her own on occasion - so I'm guessing she won't know the difference if there are few more. But I'd hate to have her reject some and lose them. There's such a difference between hen-raised and house-raised chicks...I'd love to have her be their mama rather than me!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

you can try it. She may take them and raise them as long as there isn't too many to get under her they should be fine.

 

[buckbuck]

How many is too many? She has 6, and we have 7 on order.