giving a hen foster chicks

[bock]

My bantam cochin chicken has been sitting on 2 golf balls for 15 days. Should I buy her 3 chicks from the feed store?

Thanks!

 

[treeclimber233]

She will appreciate some babies. In my state you have to buy at least 6 chicks.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

I think she would like to have some foster chicks! Just sneak them under her at night and I'll bet she'll happily accept them. Have a plan B just in case for some reason she rejects them, but most likely she'll take them in without qualms. Good luck! I recently had one of my girls accept a chick even when she wasn't broody, and now does the mother hen cluck and everything to her. That hen is a bit oddball so I wouldn't expect that type of response from just any hen, but...just saying.

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
What SP said, except I don't have an odd ball hen--Wanna send me yours SP?

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Quote:
What a strange rule.

ETA - I have seen other discussions on this and they have reported success with putting in chicks with a broody at night.

 

[flakey chick]

My two cents- get the youngest chicks you can find. I tried it with some chicks that were a week old. My broody clucked to them at first until she saw them. Then it was "get away from my eggs!" I raised those inside plan B and got her some younger chicks she loved.

 

[bock]

Thanks I'll pick them up this weekend!!

 

[treeclimber233]

The "6 chick rule" is supposed to stop people from impulse buying only 1 chick.