Introducing chicks to a broody hen

[chickengeorgeto]

Waited an hour. Put them in & she kept pecking. Wouldn't settle down after what seemed like several minutes. Pulled them to brooder. Well, we tried.

You likely waited to long before introducing the chicks to their adoptive mom and the hen is now beyond or past the time that she will imprint on new chicks. Chicks imprint on their mother as well as the mother imprinting on her chicks.

 

[Smiling Angel]

This thread is really helping me with my research! We have only had one broody hen ever since raising chicks in 2013, and it's always been our black Australorp, Charlie. She is now five and broody again! Last year, we finally slipped six chicks under her in the evening, and she was a great mother! Our nests are raised about 18 inches from the floor of the coop. Last year, we took her, nest and all, and put her in the back corner of the coop in a metal dog crate, with the door open. That seemed to work really well, as there was food and water in there with them. We were going to go out to the coop tonight and move her the same way again, but I am possibly rethinking this. We will put the dog crate in the back corner again, but maybe let her get her chicks down to the floor of the coop themselves, instead of moving her. We are planning to get the chicks tomorrow morning and put them with her tomorrow night. Decisions, decisions. Wish us luck!

**I should add that we have a dozen hens right now, including the three from last spring (we lost one a few weeks in, and then lost the two others when they were fully grown). Both when they were free ranging in our large yard - one due to a fox during the day, and one from a hawk attack, believe it or not! Can't win sometimes!

 

[Smiling Angel]

View attachment 1420373 Well, we did it last night. We gave Charlie four little chicks, and they are all doing well. Whew!

 

[Smiling Angel]

Here’s a few more shots:
She’s a natural !

 

[Jeanniejayne53]

Just wanted to thank you both again...the outcome was a total success!

I slipped them under her last night about 9pm - I was a bit nervous as they were peeping away as I walked across the lawn...thinking they'd raise a ruckus as I was trying to quietly enter the coop...but it was a non issue. They became quiet very quickly after they were under her (I have to say that I ended up pulling one back out thinking I might have tucked her in a bit too far...thinking maybe she couldn't breathe due to be squished by mama's weight. HA! Ended up tucking them both more under her wing. They went under without issue and other than pecking me a few times due to having her sleep disrupted, mama didn't move. I rechecked them about an hour later...all was well (I picked up her wing to see if they were ok, and they were both snuggled in and sound asleep.) This morning they popped their heads out to look at me when I went into the coop...and then dove back out of sight. Gave me a chuckle. The other hens were going about their business, maybe a little curious, but definitely no malice. When she still hadn't moved by this afternoon, I decided to put the water and chick food I had used in their brooder yesterday, in the nest box. I was a little worried that they may get dehydrated without water because although I thought they were about 2 days old when I headed to pick them up yesterday, I think honestly they're closer to 5-6 days (although they are tiny and down covered, I can see the start of feathers coming in...so my guess is have been drinking and feeding regularly already.) They stayed hidden while I was placing the food and water...but I waited, peeking through the door after I left, and out they popped and went right over and started drinking...even mama drank. So I think I made the right decision. Our nest boxes are trough style, so there is room for the food and water for now...I'll remove them once she moves the babies out of there. I think we've had a great first day, and I'm thrilled it went so smoothly. Perfect outcome for Mother's Day. Again, my appreciation for your thoughts! View attachment 1386710View attachment 1386711

Thanks for the update and pics! Adorable!

 

[Smiling Angel]

So glad all is well. Our Charlie and her four chicks are doing well, and our eleven other hens are curious but haven’t bothered the little family. This is surely the most trouble free way of adding to your flock .

 

[brum]

I know this is a pretty old thread but I wanted to say thank you for this! This information was invaluable and spot on! We introduced 3 baby chicks (3 days old - 1 Australorp and 2 Barred Rock) to a brooding Australorp hen on Saturday night following these recommendations and it's been exactly as described. So far so good...

First picture is Sunday morning she was still in the nesting box and it's the most popular for our 8 girls. 5 of them prefer to lay in that box so... she stayed on top of the chicks even though one of the other girls tried to kick her out to lay. It was a little comical...

The next two are from yesterday afternoon... like you said she would, she moved out of the box and created a nest in one of the corners out in the COOP. It's been very cute to watch them... they seem to love their new momma and she seems to have taken to them. Watched her "growl" at another hen who was curious about these little things running around.

Anyway, thank you so much for the help from this thread! Like I said, so far so good and exactly as you said it would go if we did the things you outlined...

1. I realize that it's best done at night, but is it ok to do this out in the main coop (she has been sitting/brooding in one of our nest boxes.) I have 5 other hens in the coop...none of whom have ever raised chicks. Three are 6 years old, and 3 (including the broody buff) are just coming two years old. OR do I bring the broody hen and do this inside...and then acclimate her and the chicks back into the coop later?

I always do this in the main coop.


2. Assuming that she accepts them (and you all say it's ok...) my other concern is that my nest boxes are off the ground by about 2 feet. How will the chicks access food/water if they are in the nest box with her? Do I put food and water in there for them? OR do I set up an alternative nest box on the ground in the coop for her and the chicks?

My nests are 2 or 3 feet high. I just putt he chicks in with the hen and walk away. When she is ready she tells them to go jump to the coop floor and they do. They never return to the nest, she takes them to a place on the coop floor to sleep at night. Usually in a corner but not always. You can put a nest down there if you wish. She might use it, she might not.

3. IF the Buff accepts them...will she protect them from the other hens? Or do I need to separate her and the chicks from the other hens?

I always leave mine with the flock and she protects them. Others have had different experiences. You are dealing with living animals, no one can give you any guarantees as to what living animals will do, but this has never been a problem for me.

4. I'm feeding the older 6 chicks a medicated chick feed...and assumed I'd do the same for the new incoming chicks...but is that ok for the Buff to eat as well? Or how do I separate that feed for the babies, from the adult feed?

You cannot keep the chicks from eating the adult feed. The hen will pick it up and drop it on the ground for them. Within two weeks the chicks will be flying up to the adult feed if it is raised. You can keep the adults from eating the chick feed by using what is called a creep feeder. That means you put the chick feed in an area with openings too small for the adults to get through.

A common way to get around this problem is to feed them all the same low-calcium feed and offer oyster shell on the side for the hens that need the extra calcium for egg shells. The ones that don't need the extra calcium shouldn't eat enough oyster shell to hurt themselves.

I always like to know what the medicine is in medicated feed before I suggest what is safe and what is not. The medicine is probably Amprolium, though there are a few other drugs that can be in medicated feed. If it is Amprolium you can feed that medicated fed to your entire flock, the eggs are still safe for you to eat. If it is somethign other than Amprolium, then you need to know what it is before you know that it is safe.