How do I get a hen to adopt chicks?

[Spartan22]

From what I understand, you have to have a broody. You have to let them sit on eggs (or fake eggs). After 21ish days, you need to replace the eggs with very young chicks by taking an egg from under your broody and sticking the chick under her. I also hear it's best to do at night, and then you need to keep close watch to see if she'll accept them.

I don't have experience doing this, but I plan to try it if one of mine goes broody this summer. I have researched the heck out of this, and I read/hear the same answer from every source I consult, both in print and in person.

But I'd love to hear other ideas. I'd like my cochin to raise some babies. Good luck!

I got seven hens went broody on me last year almost simultaneously for the very first time in my 5 yrs w/ chickens, I had 5 of them hatched 4 eggs each as surrogate moms. One hen even adopted and raised couple of chicks that was abandoned after two wks by another hen. My one hen killed the 2 one day old chick that I placed under her to be raise with 4 she hatched. But I guess she knows her own. Some hens will be great moms some will not, you can never tell, so I’ve learned my lessons. Some older hens are great broody.

 

[Sinful chick]

Means she's collecting eggs with intention to set and raise young.

I just learned something, too!! Thanks! Plain English!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Se

I have had broody hens adopt chicks. But, yes, the hen has to be broody first. Mine hadn't been sitting for 21 days, but they had been sitting long enough for me to know that they were serious about it. I don't remember exactly how long they had been sitting but I would say 10 days at least.
Yes, I did slip the chicks in under the hen at night with out any lights on. I didn't bother taking out the eggs/ fake eggs at that time. I just wanted to get the chicks under her. I would only do a couple at a time and then go out later ( 30 to 60 minutes) and put a couple more under her. I have even added some more chicks after 3 days, but she was not a first time Momma.
I agree with going out and checking to make sure they were not rejecting the chick(s). I did have one broody that accepted all the chicks but 1. For some reason it did not like a fuzzy black chick, but fortunately I had a 2nd broody and she accepted that chick.
The pros to having broody reared chicks is that they integrate with the flock MUCH EASIER! Momma doesn't let the rest of the flock pick on her chicks! Even our lowest ranked, most docile hen became a fierce Momma! The chicks learned all they needed to know from Momma hen. The broody raised chicks learn much faster how to get up on the ramp to get into the coop. The brooder raised chicks ( my brooder is out in the coop) don't figure out the ramp until they are much older even though they see the other chickens going up and down it. The Momma broody keeps the chicks warm, so there is no need for heat lamps!! Broody hen raised chicks also go outside sooner and learn about eating grit and bugs and where and how to find food and water sooner because Momma teaches it all to them. She also teaches them about danger and what to do when danger is near.

See? This is what I mean. I learn so much here from people who have real life experience. I love BYC for this. Fantastic!

 

[aprilmaybe]

I have had broody hens adopt chicks. But, yes, the hen has to be broody first. Mine hadn't been sitting for 21 days, but they had been sitting long enough for me to know that they were serious about it. I don't remember exactly how long they had been sitting but I would say 10 days at least.
Yes, I did slip the chicks in under the hen at night with out any lights on. I didn't bother taking out the eggs/ fake eggs at that time. I just wanted to get the chicks under her. I would only do a couple at a time and then go out later ( 30 to 60 minutes) and put a couple more under her. I have even added some more chicks after 3 days, but she was not a first time Momma.
I agree with going out and checking to make sure they were not rejecting the chick(s). I did have one broody that accepted all the chicks but 1. For some reason it did not like a fuzzy black chick, but fortunately I had a 2nd broody and she accepted that chick.
The pros to having broody reared chicks is that they integrate with the flock MUCH EASIER! Momma doesn't let the rest of the flock pick on her chicks! Even our lowest ranked, most docile hen became a fierce Momma! The chicks learned all they needed to know from Momma hen. The broody raised chicks learn much faster how to get up on the ramp to get into the coop. The brooder raised chicks ( my brooder is out in the coop) don't figure out the ramp until they are much older even though they see the other chickens going up and down it. The Momma broody keeps the chicks warm, so there is no need for heat lamps!! Broody hen raised chicks also go outside sooner and learn about eating grit and bugs and where and how to find food and water sooner because Momma teaches it all to them. She also teaches them about danger and what to do when danger is near.

Fantastic info! How old were the chicks?

 

[Fishkeeper]

I don't think it'll work with chicks that are more than a few days old. Broody hens are hormonally and instinctively driven to sit on eggs at first, and then, after long enough, the instinct switches over to getting them ready for chicks. Chicks past the right age don't make the right noises and are too big, so most hens won't accept them, even when they are broody. A non-broody hen won't take them.
Even if you had a hen go broody tomorrow, the chicks would grow too much by the time she was ready for babies. A newly broody hen won't take chicks. Your best bet is to put the chicks where the adults can see and begin an integration process, just let them run around loose. They don't need a mother as long as you give them the warmth, food, and water that they do need.

 

[Rattlerjake]

I don't know!?? I'm embarrassed to say I don't know what that means.

You don't necessarily need a broody hen, but any hen that you get to adopt chicks will likely stop laying for a while. Certain breeds make better mothers than others, I have silkies and cochins which will take chicks any time. You need to put the hen into a small cage (cat carrier or similar), with feed and water. At night put the chicks under her and watch to make sure she settles to sleep. In the morning you need to be watching when it gets light to see if she will reject them. If she does okay, then the next day move her and the chicks into a 10 gallon aquarium with a cage lid, food (spread the food on the flood of the cage/aquarium), and water. Do this for about a week and if they do well, move them outside to a small pen - DO NOT PUT WITH ANY OTHER CHICKENS. You will not be able to put her and the chicks back with the flock or battles will ensue.

My silkie hens raise ANYTHING! Goslings, peachicks, turkey poults, ducklings, guinea keets - they are great mothers and they are very docile (not mean).

 

[Maxine Green]

I need to start out by saying I am a novice hobby farmer and I rarely have time to follow the rules and apparently neither do my animals. I currently have 9 hens, 8 jersey giants and the oldest a gift. These pet chickens looked around the place and noticed nobody else was earning their keep so they decided neither will we, so my chickens do not lay eggs, haven’t for years even though some are less than a year old. Enough of history, to the point.

When I order new chicks, I tell the group babys are coming. When the chicks arrive by mail in the summer, I put a bowl of chick starter feed in the back of the chicken house, take each baby chick out of the box, dunk their beaks in the water trough and let them go. I close the doors to the chicken house with all the chickens and chicks in side for usually 2 days. (Yes, I check on everybody many times during their confinement). The third day I open the doors and have a bigger chicken family. I have done this method for four years and have only lost 2 chicks in the process. If the nights are cooler a few of the hens will huddle on the floor with the chicks, otherwise the chicks just huddle together and are fine.

 

[Deeders]

I had two hens sharing a nest, they had been on it for about 10 days. I didn't know better, bought some chicks at TSC, and put them under them during the day. One hen tried to kill the babies (I had to separate her) and the other raised them as if they were her own. (They may be "adopted" but they sure got her bold and friendly little personality Next time I'll try at night- or maybe I'll use a Silkie!

 

[Judy Todd]

A little background...
I have 6 full grown hens that I raised from chicks, but they have never had their own chicks. I purchased some babies from the hardware store and they are doing fine in their little hutch but I was wondering if it would be possible to get one of the hens to adopt the babies? If so, what are the benefits and how do I go about it? Thanks for any help.

You cannnot make a hen raise baby chicks, she must be broody first and then you must get only 1 or 2 day old chicks. After you have moved her to a separate pen for a few days, then get your brand new chicks, put them under her in the dark. It always works for me. Read on line and Story's book on foster hens.

 

[Sea Wolf]

A little background...
I have 6 full grown hens that I raised from chicks, but they have never had their own chicks. I purchased some babies from the hardware store and they are doing fine in their little hutch but I was wondering if it would be possible to get one of the hens to adopt the babies? If so, what are the benefits and how do I go about it? Thanks for any help.

There are no benefits and chances are good that the hens will kill the chicks if you put them together. You need to keep your baby chicks in a heated area and feed them chick starter/grower until they have feathered out and are old enough to be integrated with the other adults. They do not eat the same feed as the adults. Keep them inside and under a heat lamp until they are the right age to be with the others. When they are old enough and it's warm enough outside then integrate them.