Hatching eggs/slipping chicks with a broody hen

[Jmash]

I have some questions for those who have had broody hens raise their chicks... Bare with me, this might be on the long side

Background:
I just hatched a clutch of eggs, but all are male (they are 2 days old today). We will raise them for meat, but still want some more hens.
I'm going to set another clutch once I can get some more eggs delivered (which will likely be in a week...). BUT, I have a hen who just broody NOW. She's a wellsummer/maran mix and has been broody several times this season (I'll be braking her for the third time this spring). She's been on the nest box this time for about 2 days. I would love for her to be able to raise the next clutch so we don't have to have chicks in our bathroom for 3-4 months (I think my husband will kill me).

The plan:
I was thinking I could give her fake eggs to sit on now, and once the chicks are hatched I could slip them under her.

The problems:
I'm worried about how long that will be for her, as she'd be broody for over 21 days... I know this might be sub-optimal for her health.

The questions:
1) Is there a way for me to keep her fed and healthy while she's broody this long?
2) What is the best way to introduce the chicks to her? I've been reading opposite opinions about slipping them at night. It seems to be the most common method, but others say its bad bc she might kill them without a human being able to intervene if she rejects.
3) Should I just try to slip this brood under her? I feel like my timing is off since they are already 2 days old and I'll have to make some arrangements in the hen house to make it safer for chicks. I also have a single egg waiting to hatch that was set a few days later that I was going to add to the current brood for raising in our brooder. (worried if I try to slip this brood of chicks under her, she might reject this last chick and then I'd have to raise a single chick alone in my brooder).
4) Should I break her of her broody now and cross fingers she goes broody again before the new eggs hatch? I could buy some time by waiting a week to set them after they are received.

Would love to know your opinions!

 

[pitbullgurl]

I've read on here somewhere that it's ok for them to be on the nest longer than 21 days so you could probably use fake eggs until you get the real ones. My broody hen lets me hand feed her in the nest but many probably wouldn't, and I doubt it's necessary anyway. She'll get up when she needs to. Why not just let her hatch them?

 

[Scotlin]

My hen ( a Cochin) just hatched 5 of her six eggs. Good percentage. This is the first time I have hatched eggs with a hen and I will never incubate again. I have them separated from the flock and they seem healthy and happy. My question is: I have fed the hen Chick Starter for the time she was on the nest. She and the chicks are now eating the Chick Starter ravenously. When do I introduce her back into the flock? She will go back to eating the lay pellets at that time. I know she needs the lay pellets to produce sound eggs. Do I leave the chicks to develop further before introducing them to the flock. At present, I have a wooden half wall so they cannot see out of their area. I am planning on taking that down soon so the chicks and hens can see one another. I need guidance on the timing of letting the hen go back with her flock. Or should I just wait and see when she seems ready to leave her chicks?

 

[Chicalina]

I would just put fake eggs under her for now and replace with the fertile eggs when they arrive. I have had hens hatch out duck eggs and they take 28 days, plus the few days practice beforehand to make sure she is properly committed.

The chicks you have now are not imprinted on her and are presumably already in a brooder. They won't see her as their mother, let alone her thinking they are hers. Your broodie will be more use to you hatching and raising the next batch.

 

[Chicalina]

My hen ( a Cochin) just hatched 5 of her six eggs. Good percentage. This is the first time I have hatched eggs with a hen and I will never incubate again. I have them separated from the flock and they seem healthy and happy. My question is: I have fed the hen Chick Starter for the time she was on the nest. She and the chicks are now eating the Chick Starter ravenously. When do I introduce her back into the flock? She will go back to eating the lay pellets at that time. I know she needs the lay pellets to produce sound eggs. Do I leave the chicks to develop further before introducing them to the flock. At present, I have a wooden half wall so they cannot see out of their area. I am planning on taking that down soon so the chicks and hens can see one another. I need guidance on the timing of letting the hen go back with her flock. Or should I just wait and see when she seems ready to leave her chicks?

You may want to start your own thread with your question, though i asked something similar recently and was advised to integrate them young and give the whole flock grower food (flock raiser) or unmedicated chick crumbs and have oyster shell on the side for the laying hens. I currently feed layer pellets which are not suitable for chicks.

I'm working on the integration now, and will combine them when I've been to the feed store.