Help! Introducing new chicks to a mama hen

[Goldenrose]

Hi, I really need help on introducing chicks to my hen. I have a Bantam Hen Who has 3 chicks of her own about 3-4 weeks old, and today I bought 2 Shamo chicks from a pet store. I want to put the new chicks with my hen but she just attacked them, and they’re just like 5 day old chicks. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[WVduckchick]

Hi, I really need help on introducing chicks to my hen. I have a Bantam Hen Who has 3 chicks of her own about 3-4 weeks old, and today I bought 2 Shamo chicks from a pet store. I want to put the new chicks with my hen but she just attacked them, and they’re just like 5 day old chicks. Any suggestions? Thanks!

The new chicks aren't hers, she sees them as a threat to her chicks. She could very easily kill them.
You could try putting them in their own cage, where momma and the chicks could see them and get used to them.

 

[Goldenrose]

The new chicks aren't hers, she sees them as a threat to her chicks. She could very easily kill them.
You could try putting them in their own cage, where momma and the chicks could see them and get used to them.

I will do just that, thanks for the advice! Tho how long will it take for momma hen to accept the new chicks?

 

[WVduckchick]

I will do just that, thanks for the advice! Tho how long will it take for momma hen to accept the new chicks?

It really depends on the hen and the chicks too! It really could go either way.

What breed is the hen? Some are more likely to accept than others.

One other thing you could try, it's risky, but at night, when it is dark, you could try slipping the chicks under her and see if she lets them stay. But again, be aware of the risk. She could go crazy on them, so you would have to watch and see what happens.

Otherwise, once the little chicks are getting around on their own better, you can introduce them slowly. Give the little ones plenty of hiding spots to run from her when necessary.

 

[Care for chicks]

The new chicks aren't hers, she sees them as a threat to her chicks. She could very easily kill them.
You could try putting them in their own cage, where momma and the chicks could see them and get used to them.

I totally agree

 

[Goldenrose]

It really depends on the hen and the chicks too! It really could go either way.

What breed is the hen? Some are more likely to accept than others.

One other thing you could try, it's risky, but at night, when it is dark, you could try slipping the chicks under her and see if she lets them stay. But again, be aware of the risk. She could go crazy on them, so you would have to watch and see what happens.

Otherwise, once the little chicks are getting around on their own better, you can introduce them slowly. Give the little ones plenty of hiding spots to run from her when necessary.

So, I separated momma hens chicks and put them together with the new chicks and they got along quite well, and I put the Hen with the adult chickens in the pen for the day, away from the chicks. Idk if it was a good thing..

My hen is a Dutch Bantam, and the new chicks are Shamo, they’re like brownish in colour. But the hens original chicks are whitish beige color. Tho I tried slipping them underneath her last night, it looked all good, til I flashed a light in her cage to see if the chicks were alright and she saw them and pecked on them quite hard.

 

[Care for chicks]

So you put the hens chicks with the pet store chicks? Do the chicks like each other?

 

[Alaskan]

It doesn't sound like the hen will take the new chicks.

I think what you are doing is the best choice, just raise all of the chicks together, put the mom back with the flock.

 

[junebuggena]

Sorry to tell you, but you've missed the window of opportunity for adding chicks. Hens will only accept chicks within a 72 hour period from the first hatch. This is the natural window of time for a clutch of eggs to hatch. After that period, the hen gets up and leaves the nest to care for the chicks, and she will not accept any new additions.
Also, there is about a 72 hour period to get a chick to imprint on a hen, after which, they will not see the hen as their mother.
Your new chicks are too old, and it's been too long since the hen hatched out her chicks for you to safely attempt add them.

 

[Goldenrose]

So you put the hens chicks with the pet store chicks? Do the chicks like each other?

Yes, the chicks like each other and get along very well, but the hen doesn’t accept the new chicks.