how to test if a broody will accept being a surrogate mom??

[technodoll]

I had awesome success with my little silkie hen last month, she was sitting on eggs for a while and they didn't take, so I gave her five newborn chicks which she took under her wing instantly. But I trust this sweet little gentle girl, I knew she would looove the babies.

The situation now:

I have 17 eggs in the bator right now, due to hatch Wednesday (day after tomorrow). I have a brooder all set up for them and everything, but find it kind of sad for them not to have a "mom" to snuggle with, learn from, etc.

In my coop, I have a big black sexlink hen (heavy girl!) who has been trying to sit on eggs since forever. She's gone bare-bellied from the effort, but since she's so big and shares the nesting boxes with so many other ladies, I've not let her have any eggs. Sometimes she stays in the nesting box(es) all day, sometimes not. She doesn't seem to be 100% determined, but what do I know. I'm not sure if she has been laying lately, but I don't think so.

My question:

How to safely assess if this girl (Pepper) would accept the newborn chicks as her own and not try to kill them?

I do have a space set up for her and babies in the garage, if need be, but have no idea where safe introductions could take place. I don't have any place for her in the house where she could be with the chicks, and I'm afraid to bring the chicks out to the garage for longer than a minute as we are having freezing, snowing temps right now - very damp too. Babies are fragile!

Apologies for the long rambling post... looking forward to your input!

 

[Campine Lover]

There is no actual way to tell how she will react. Has she seen chicks before? How did she react towards them? Is she gentle with eggs when she sits on them? It may be hard because you have 17 eggs, and say all but a few will hatch, that girl will have a lot to deal with, and may reject some. You could 'test' her when they hatch, but there isn't really another way. Good Luck, and keep an eye on her for awhile if you do give her chicks!

 

[SilkieTime]

Could you move her where others can't bother them and give he a heat lamp. Not to low and try the chicks and watch for a while. I did this with a silkie that went broody after her first egg 4 weeks later gave her chicks that were 4 days old. Hen or chicks didn't know what to do so I went to put one chick a little closer and she pecked me hard. She called them and here they came. She a good mom.
Any way here is a bump

 

[technodoll]

OK thanks.... I think I will try it, what do I have to lose?

This hen wants to be a mama so hopefully she'll adopt these chicks... and no, she's never seen one before.

If instinct doesn't take over at least I will have tried.

She's a funny hen, big girl that doesn't let me get too close, can't really pet her but she's not wild either. The past six weeks I've been lifting her butt to collect eggs, she lets me pet her while raising her hackles and screeching gently, but she's never even tried to peck at me. So I'm not sure WHAT her character is like.

Please wish me luck!