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She would have to be truly broody before she accepted chicks. I've fostered chicks under broodies many times with good success, just have to have a true broody bird and do it under cover of darkness. I keep the nest covered until I can get up there in the morning and supervise the interaction when I take the cover off. I've never had a broody refuse chicks yet.
Thanks, that is what I thought but wanted to make sure there wasn't another way.
Sorry I'm late getting back to your question... Actually theCochin x Wyandotte hen that adopted the chicks has not been broody so far this spring. She is 5 years old and is an experienced mother who has raised several clutches of chicks. She has shown attention to chicks of all ages and often volunteers her assistance when a first time mother is raising babies.
The other hen, The Australorp has also been interested in fostering chicks when a young hen gives up her job when chicks are about three weeks old. She was broody in late winter, but I did not give her eggs to hatch.
I took a chance with these hens because the 3 week olds needed to come out of the brooder and the broody hens were not near enough to hatch.
Knowing the mothering instincts of your hens, watching their activities around chicks, and often a lucky chance becomes a good outcome. I have Wyandotte, Cochin, Australorp, Buckeye Breeds along with Sex link layers. There is a big difference in the hens as to their desire to mother or go broody.
As Beekissed points out...A broody hen sitting on eggs is more likely to accept chicks...but not always at 3 weeks of age.
I carefully watch a hen when I give her already hatched chicks to foster along with her own hatched clutch. Not all hens will accept the foster babies. A lot depends on the mothering ability/characteristics of the breed and the nature of your hens.
Had the CxW hen not shown an interest in the chicks, I would have closed them in on the floor in the brooder room with wood shavings on the floor, a dusting pan, feed and water and a couple of older chicks (5 - 6 week olds) that had been free ranging. Then offering the grass and bugs to the blended age group, the older chicks would teach by example. Chicks are pretty resilient and quickly learn new skills from juveniles with more experience.
When I go out to the barn and pens during the day to check on the flock, 5 - 6 week olds that have been free-ranging with their mothers come running from all directions along with the adults to see if the Mistress has any scraps to toss around....that is a learned behavior.
