giving a broody hen checks.

[imusa76]

I have a Broody Hen, we Have no Roosters so we have no fertle eggs, she has been this way for about 2 1/2 weeks.. ans she is insisting on hatching somthing.
if I put a few chicks under her at night or somthing , will she kill them or raise them? will that help her get out of the nesting box.

also will the other chickens kill the chicks or kill them?

 

[eenie114]

I'd say the answer to both questions depends on the hen. Some hens will adopt chicks without batting an eyelash, some will have none of it.
As far as other chickens, the mother hen will usually protect them, but not always.
Good luck!

 

[madabouthens]

it depends you would have to maybe watch her for a while incase she tries to kill them but it reali depends on the hen

 

[Keara]

I agree it depends on the hen. But to give it the best chance of working....

1. give the hen chicks after she has been broody for a few weeks
2. Make sure she is in a quiet safe place to sit with the chicks.
3. give the chicks to her at night when she is sleeping
4. give her chicks as close to one day old as possible

good luck