Help please. What to do with newly non-broody hen and incubator chicks?

[handihoes]

I introduced myself and story on the introductions threat, but basically I haven't had chickens since I was young (over 20 years), so you could say I was a newbie. I have a silkie x hen that was broody, but left her nest with a severe case of red mites. She is clear of mites now (or appears to be) but seems to be no longer broody. I have 7 eggs in an incubator, 4 of which are definitely alive and developing. We were going to compare hen raised chicks to human raised as a science experiment for my sons school project, but that plan has been thwarted by the mites. So now we are wondering if we should try to put eggs under her again and maybe broodiness will return, at which time we could trade for fertile eggs? Or could we give the incubator chicks to her to raise when/if they hatch - will she reject them or hurt them? If not, what age could we introduce her to the new chicks and how should it be done?

 

[grichard]

Silkies have been known to be very broody and very good mothers. Even if they are not broody at the moment they could be made broody by simply places eggs under them or putting chicks under her in a dark brooder area