Hen rejects eggs and accepts 4-week-old chicks instead

[Debbie292d]

Try it, but since you've already pulled eggs, don't wait too long. You may want to let her set new eggs (or fake ones - got any golf balls?) for just a day or two. Then you can swap out eggs for chiacks while she's setting. I reach under with a peep and pull out and egg in the same motion. Mama never sees the egg leaving.
I've recently pulled eggs and put three almost-one-week-old peeps under a Nankin hen. She shuffled a bit, but accepted them all. A few days later, I took a chance and added a one-day old that had hatched in my ... ummm ... foundation garments. Some more shuffling, and she's now the proud mother of four hard-feathered youngsters, including the late-bloomer. That particular baby's name is BB, the politically correct nickname for her real name, BooBee!

The initial chicks were sold a few days ago so I put the younger ones out there to see if either one would take them. They were all inside the hutch, the rooster outside as if on watch.

I stayed close by for about 10 minutes so I could hear if any chicks cried out. It was quiet. I went in the house for a bit and came back out to check. Still quiet, but the original mother was now dustbathing on the opposite side of the pen. I opened the hutch, and in one corner sat Petra the broody, and in the opposite corner were my four little chicks all cuddled up. She didn't take them. Ah well, it was worth a shot!

 

[tlcmurphy]

The initial chicks were sold a few days ago so I put the younger ones out there to see if either one would take them. They were all inside the hutch, the rooster outside as if on watch.

I stayed close by for about 10 minutes so I could hear if any chicks cried out. It was quiet. I went in the house for a bit and came back out to check. Still quiet, but the original mother was now dustbathing on the opposite side of the pen. I opened the hutch, and in one corner sat Petra the broody, and in the opposite corner were my four little chicks all cuddled up. She didn't take them. Ah well, it was worth a shot!

I had my fingers crossed

 

[MROO]

The initial chicks were sold a few days ago so I put the younger ones out there to see if either one would take them. They were all inside the hutch, the rooster outside as if on watch.

I stayed close by for about 10 minutes so I could hear if any chicks cried out. It was quiet. I went in the house for a bit and came back out to check. Still quiet, but the original mother was now dustbathing on the opposite side of the pen. I opened the hutch, and in one corner sat Petra the broody, and in the opposite corner were my four little chicks all cuddled up. She didn't take them. Ah well, it was worth a shot!

Did you slip them underneath her or just leave them together? Mine don't seem to have a concept of the "proper" amount of brooding time. They just seem to accept that, since those little fuzzy things came out from under her, they belong!

 

[Debbie292d]

Did you slip them underneath her or just leave them together? Mine don't seem to have a concept of the "proper" amount of brooding time. They just seem to accept that, since those little fuzzy things came out from under her, they belong!

They tried to crawl under her. She let them, so I thought this was going to work. But nope. She must've kicked them out after I left. This was also broad daylight. I could try again at night.

 

[MROO]

They tried to crawl under her. She let them, so I thought this was going to work. But nope. She must've kicked them out after I left. This was also broad daylight. I could try again at night.

Poor Littles!