Hens raising hatchery chicks

[Melisse]

I have had backyard chickens for 13 years. After 12, I took a break for a few years and have been back for a year. I have heard that you can put chicks under a broody hen and she will raise them. My hens have always hatched their own, but I am ordering chicks from a hatchery cause I couldn't find the breeds I wanted around here. One hen hatched chicks about 5 weeks ago and still goes in the nest box with some of them at night. Can I give her the new ones at night and have her accept them?

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi

Glad you could join the flock! Great to hear you are now back into keeping chickens. As your hen has been raising chicks for the last 5 weeks I would think she will not accept new chicks right now. You can usually get away with adding chicks under a broody hen when she is still sitting or when any chicks have just hatched. For me personally adding new ones to her now would be a risk.

Wishing you the very best of luck for the future and enjoy BYC

 

[Melisse]

I was thinking that too but I guess I needed to hear somebody else say it.

was hoping to let her do the work instead of me.

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas and . Pleased you joined this wonderful community. Best of luck with your poultry!

 

[drumstick diva]

I agree, I think it would be very risky to add new chicks to her. Besides her chicks are old enough to not need her, she could be dumping them any day now.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!