How do I put my 15 newly hatched chicks under my broody hen....

[Mraya]

I put 3 eggs under my broody hen and I put the other 15 eggs in the incubator. Today is hatch she has 3 chicks under her so far I don't know how many eggs she laid. After dark can I put the chicks that hatched (looks like all 15 will hatch ) under her?

 

[Cayuga momma]

I have not dealt with this yet, but I have seen others suggestions on this topic.
18 chicks might be alot for her. Maybe if you just stick 8 under her tonight, plus the 3 she has, and then tomorrow night stick 4 more and then the night after that the rest. Maybe that will help her acclimate to all those chicks.
I'm no expert, but I hope this helps.

 

[Talithahorse]

I was wondering the same thing as far as how many can one hen handle. Mine hatched out all 9 by herself. So far she is doing well and is a very good mother (this is not her first clutch) Congrats on your chicks.

 

[Mraya]

Well I put 4 out of the 10 hatched chicks under her. I guess I'll know more in the morning.

 

[Mraya]

Update the 4 chicks are doing great she is really looking after them teaching them how to drink and eat. Tonight I will put 4 more she is still sitting and I counted a total of 9 chicks.

 

[featherhead007]

My Ameraucana hatched seven out of 10 she did well also!

 

[Talithahorse]

7 of 9 of them. all are doing well.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Your plan will likely work as long as the hen has not yet seen or bonded (some people call the bonding imprinting.) When imprinting is completed the hen will not likely imprint on anymore chicks. Chicks are more fluid about imprinting than adult hens are so your mileage may vary.

 

[featherhead007]

View attachment 1375069 7 of 9 of them. all are doing well.

NICE, a mix of beauties!

 

[Mraya]

OK update I did not put any more chicks under my hen, I didn't want to push my luck.
My hen "Blu" hatched the 3 eggs I put under her and is taking care of the 4 chicks I put under her at night. Now that she is off the nest I check to see if any eggs did not hatch. Well it turns out she was only sitting on 1 egg that hatched. Had I known she was only sitting on 1 egg to begin with I would have put all 18 eggs under her .