In home or hen raised?

[LBA830]

I’m getting 3 baby chicks within the next 2 weeks. Could I let one of my current hens “adopt” them or would it just be safer to raise them inside the house for now since it’s so cold outside? What would the pros and cons be of letting one of my girls raise them?

 

[DobieLover]

I’m getting 3 baby chicks within the next 2 weeks. Could I let one of my current hens “adopt” them or would it just be safer to raise them inside the house for now since it’s so cold outside? What would the pros and cons be of letting one of my girls raise them?

You can't put chicks with your adult hens. They will likely kill them.
The only way a hen will raise chicks is if she's broody. And if you want to graft chicks to a broody, she must have been setting fake eggs for nearly 3 weeks before you slip the chicks under her at night.
You will have to prepare a proper brooder and brood them yourself.
If your coop is large enough, and it's not too cold outside (as in below 20F), you can brood them in an enclosed area of your coop with a brooder plate.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Having a brooder will be best.
Share photos of the chicks when they come.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Unless that hen has been brooding already and continues to brood until they get there, giving that hen chicks will only result in dead chicks

 

[LBA830]

Thanks!

You can't put chicks with your adult hens. They will likely kill them.
The only way a hen will raise chicks is if she's broody. And if you want to graft chicks to a broody, she must have been setting fake eggs for nearly 3 weeks before you slip the chicks under her at night.
You will have to prepare a proper brooder and brood them yourself.
If your coop is large enough, and it's not too cold outside (as in below 20F), you can brood them in an enclosed area of your coop with a brooder plate.

Ok, thank you! I wasn’t sure if I choose a hen if she would “adopt” the new chicks if she wasn’t already broody. Just wanted to check I raised my first ones in a brooder and they did really well. I’m excited to raise this new bunch

 

[LBA830]

Unless that hen has been brooding already and continues to brood until they get there, giving that hen chicks will only result in dead chicks

Ok, thank you! This will be my second bunch of chicks. Still learning a lot I’d love to see one of my current girls as a mama, but I completely understand the reasoning to keep them separate!

 

[LBA830]

Having a brooder will be best.
Share photos of the chicks when they come.

Thank you!

 

[Acre4Me]

Nothing cuter than a momma hen and chicks!! But, nothing more shocking as when a hen attacks a little chick!

all above is true, need a broody. We’ve had a 2.5 week broody successfully adopt chicks (at night, in the dark they were slipped under her). But we have also tried to get a broody that was only broody for maybe 2 weeks to adopt, and it was a quick rescue of the chicks being attacked. So, they need to sit for nearly that 3 week period before they are ready to hatch/adopt. And even then, so girls are not good mommas.

good luck in the future, and enjoy these chicks!

 

[LBA830]

Nothing cuter than a momma hen and chicks!! But, nothing more shocking as when a hen attacks a little chick!

all above is true, need a broody. We’ve had a 2.5 week broody successfully adopt chicks (at night, in the dark they were slipped under her). But we have also tried to get a broody that was only broody for maybe 2 weeks to adopt, and it was a quick rescue of the chicks being attacked. So, they need to sit for nearly that 3 week period before they are ready to hatch/adopt. And even then, so girls are not good mommas.

good luck in the future, and enjoy these chicks!

Thank you!