Giving chicks to a broody hen

[Noah]

I've been reading and researching for some time now.
Sparkles my silkie hen has been siting on "eggs" for a few weeks now.
I have new chicks from the feed farm that I was planning on raising myself.
Is it possible to "give" them to Sparkles to raise.
(I know it's possible but I was wondering if anyone else has done it with success?)

 

[sourland]

Most hens will readily accept foster chicks if they are placed under the hen during the night - that seems to give her a chance to 'bond' to the sounds and movement of the chick. The longer she has been setting, the greater the chance of success. A hen that has only been broody for a couple of days may very well not accept chicks. If you foster chicks to your hen, get up at daybreak to see that things are going OK.

 

[Noah]

Oh TY sourland for responding.
I'm nervous as all get out.
I have read a lot but should I put all four babies under her at the same time?
(and take the "eggs?")
There are 5 fake eggs if that matters.
Sparkles is a real doll and she and I are very close-she is used to me touching her all the time.
I just want to get this right.

 

[sourland]

I would remove the eggs and put all of the chicks under her at the same time. Stay there a while to make sure that all is going well. The younger the chicks the more THEY are likely to bond to her. If she cocks her head, starts clucking very softly - almost a purring, she is 'liking' what is going on. Hens that have previously raised chick in my experience have never rejected foster chicks.

 

[Noah]

Again, thank you for the help.
I usually put Sparkles to bed at 10:00- I'm 13 minutes late.
Should I put the red heat light on a corner of this set up?
The babies are used to it.
I'll be awake all night monitoring everything-just wondered if the babies might be more comfy with the red light they are used to?
(I put a red night light in with Sparkles the last few weeks-so she is used to the red zone)

 

[sourland]

Initially I would try it with no light. It will take her a while to become accustomed to the sounds and movements of the chicks. If she can see them before she becomes accustomed to their cheeping and movement she may be more likely to peck at them. After a bit if all seems to be going well, you can try it with the light on. Good luck.

 

[piddapat]

This is my second year giving chicks to a hen ( 3 hens total) They do best with no red light. Otherwise they see the chicks before they bond to them. But you can try the red light first. If it does not work, turn it off. Last year the hen refused just one chick. No idea why. She hates that chick. We raised it alone inside. When mama was done raising the others, we added the baby to the other babies and they accepted her just fine. However, mama still hates that one. She has not forgotten.
I find it amazing to hear the chicks suddenly quiet down as soon as they are under her. I figure they live and grow with a heat lamp, but would rather have a mama.
And I leave an egg or two in the nest to make sure she keeps sitting with the eggs/bonding with chicks. Works well for us.

 

[rachel9947]

Hi, We have fostered many day old chicks onto our broodies. It works really well, and allows you to expand the gene pool if you get the eggs from unrelated families. My experience is that you need to get the chicks really new, preferably day old, when they will accept their new 'Mum'. All broodies will accept a chick of this age, as long as they have sitting long enough to believe that it is their own. this means that she needs to have been sitting for 3 weeks. You don't necessarily have to remove the old eggs. She will sit tight on the chicks for two days and then, if the other eggs haven't hatched, she will abandon them as infertile. Tuck the chicks under her, the cheeping will immediately alert her to the fact that there is a live chick there, and she will nestle over them. Stick around. If she abandons any of the chicks she will push them away from her. I have never found this with day-old fostered chicks, but I have found it with eggs that have hatched many days apart, where the Mum has decided that she has already had her brood. Chicks more than 3 days old may not accept their new 'Mum'. I have had a broody fly out of my arms and straight across the room to where the chicks were and then nestle them under her. She didn't hatch them, but they were babies and she wanted them. I had a chick hatch from the egg in my hand last Monday, and then presented it to the Mum and she instantly took it over. Don't worry, the instinct is very strong. Hope this helps.

 

[Percheron chick]

They don't need the heat lamp. That's what the hen is for. I gave my broody 5 day old chicks that had been at the feed store, it snowed 2 days later and they were all fine.

 

[Noah]

It all helps SO much.
I read and read and read but when it comes time to do it...I get panicky.
Sparkles is fine, it's me that has issues-lol
Thanks again for the support and advice.
I really do appreciate you all taking the time to help me out.