Feedback needed on idea for introducing new chicks

[chofelt]

OK, so I have a "micro flock" of 4 city hens. Used to have 5 but recently lost one to a hawk. They are: a Buff oprington, a RI Red, a Black sex-linked, and a hybrid of some sort (RI Red and something else).

I recently got 4 new chicks: 2 RI reds and 2 Buff Opringtons. They are just over 3 weeks old.

A few days ago my "old" Buff went broody, so she is camped out in the nest box. I had an idea this morning, what if I went out during the night and stuck the 4 (3 week old) chicks into the nest box with the broody Buff? Would she take them on and also come out of her broodyness (I need all the eggs I can get right now...)

Some factors that I would think are potentially important:
I live in Raleigh, so Spring is trying to get here but it still gets down into the 30's at night.
We have a lot of cats in the neighborhood, they leave the big girls alone but not sure about the little ones.
The "old" buff is at the bottom of the pecking order.

What do you think? is this a good idea or a stupid idea? Any and all advice welcomed...

Cheers,
Chris

 

[Judy]

Cats can be a threat to chicks but not usually to adult chickens. Broodies will usually accept baby chicks fine, I've done it myself, but 3 weeks is probably too old. You could try it, I guess. Orps are pretty laid back birds.

 

[lotzahenz]

I think it totally depends on the hen. However, three week old chicks will not listen to the hen, they have not bonded to her voice. IF they are kept together, confined, they should be fine, unless she rejects them, but she will not lay eggs until they are 'weaned'. The cats WILL get the babies, because the chicks won't run to the hen when she calls, they will sleep under her though. So, just keep the hen in your brooder as the heat source. If she pecks at them, move her back to the flock. I just had a hen in with 14 cornish crosses, they loved her and would snuggle under her, then the next week I got 12 more. I was brooding them separate, but decided to add heat lamps and put them all together, moving the hen. She was upset, so I just left her there with them all. Once, so funny, she had Most of them under her, but most of the time they just did their own thing and she got to think she was mothering them. They feather out quick and get 'pink' where the feathers are falling out in their wing areas, so she started pecking at those small places, and then starting drawing blood. She was not pecking the chicks, but the red spots, so she had to go back to the flock. One thing I hate, roaming domestic cats!

they are the worst thing ever to happen to 'nature', killing more song birds than anything else in the world. Good luck with your babies. HenZ

 

[chofelt]

Thanks for the replies. Based on the responses, in am thinking I will just wait until they are bigger. I do not have a separate brooder that I can put the old Buff in with the chicks. I and I am not in a position where I can keep too close an eye on them.
Chris