I just brought home a chick for a broody hen

[Peeps Paradise]

I just brought home a chick for a broody hen and I placed it under her wing and
everything seemed fine. I came back an hour later and the chick was outside of
the nest box, on the floor, huddled up in a corner.

When I tried to place the chick again, the hen started pecking it? I had heard that
broody hens would accept chicks. Should I try to place the chick again tonight?

 

[paddock36]

Yes, I would try at night. Is the hen still setting on any eggs?

 

[Peeps Paradise]

Thank you for your fast reply!

She was sitting on a plastic egg, but I removed it as soon as I slipped the
day old chick under her wing. Should I put the plastic egg back and remove it
again tonight when I reintroduce the chick?

 

[Kittymomma]

How long has she been setting? I think they are more likely to accept chicks when they've been setting for a couple of weeks. For sure try again at night, any kind of change with chooks is best done when they are in their night time trance--just be sure to check on things bright and early in the a.m. in case it still doesn't go well.

ETA:

 

[Peeps Paradise]

She's been trying to hatch that plastic egg for just over 2 weeks now. I thought today
was getting pretty close to day 21 and she would be ready for her first chick. I was
pretty shocked when I saw her pecking at the little guy.

I'm hesitant to put the chick out tonight, I would hate to see her harm or kill the little fuzz ball.

She's a Red Sex Link and the day old chick I bought today is a Barred Rock.

 

[squeakyballs]

You have to do it at night when the hen is sleeping. Put it under and wait for her to make quiet little happy sounds. Check every 10 minutes for a bit, and then maybe after an hour check again.

I tried to give them to my silkies during the day and it didn't work, tried again that night and it was cake.

Edited to add: the chicks I gave my silkies were all different breeds, too. I think they sat on their golf-balls for less than 2 weeks before they got the chicks. Just tell her it was all a bad dream, there was never a chick, and then try again tonight.

 

[Peeps Paradise]

Placing the chick at night must be the key to getting the hen
to accept it. I've just scrambled and put together a brooder
in the house for this single chick. I'll wait until it's dark and all
the hens are roosted and I'll try again. If it doesn't work, I'll
have to go back to the feed store and get a second chick to
keep this one company...

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Has the broody hen ever raised chicks before? Because not all broodies are good moms. i've had broodies try to kill their own newborn chicks. Personally, i wouldn't risk the life of the chick by putting her back under the broody. The only time i've slipped chicks under a broody was after they already hatched chicks and i added just one more.

 

[JLS]

I will be holding my breath and waiting to hear if everything works out well.

 

[countrygirl4513]

Yes night is the only time to do it. It is called grafting. I did this for my broody a couple of years ago and she took them with no question. However do it in the dark with only a tiny little flashlight so as not to reveal your intentions. I even dappled the light from the flashlight by having my son place it under his shirt, and we proceeded by touch. But she loved her babies and never was the wiser. Good Luck.