Giving chicks to broody hens

[SquawWoman]

Hi. I have some two week old chicks and just had two hens go broody. Are they too old to slip under them?

 

[Yardfulla poopers]

At two weeks I feel they are already too energetic and independent to slip under a broody. I also feel if the hens just went broody and you don't wait until day 20 to slip babies under, it may not be believable to the hen.
I've not tried it but have talked with a few who have.
I would wait until they've been broody at least 19 days and get a couple days olds from the feed store. At least that way you could guarantee they are pullets and not cockerels.

 

[Debbie292d]

I was just about to post about this oddity. My hen, who has been sitting on 6 eggs for nearly two weeks, pushed the eggs out of the nest to play mom to the four 4-week-old chicks I had put in the same pen.

Having seen this, I'd always suggest trying.

 

[Yardfulla poopers]

I was just about to post about this oddity. My hen, who has been sitting on 6 eggs for two weeks, pushed the eggs out of the nest to play mom to the four 4-week-old chicks I had put in the same pen.

Having seen this, I'd always suggest trying.

View attachment 4152969

Wow, yes, always worth a try!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I was just about to post about this oddity. My hen, who has been sitting on 6 eggs for two weeks, pushed the eggs out of the nest to play mom to the four 4-week-old chicks I had put in the same pen.

Having seen this, I'd always suggest trying.

View attachment 4152969

Debbie, congrats on your new status and badges!

 

[Debbie292d]

Debbie, congrats on your new status and badges!

Thank you, Blue!