Introducing chicks to first time broody mom?

[StephanieZo]

We just recieved 2 chicks on Wednesday by mail from a hatchery. They were hatched on Monday. Our 4 year old Buff Orpington all of a sudden decided to go broody for the very first time on Friday! Our plan was to raise the chicks in a brooder and then introduce them to our flock of 4. Now we are wondering whether we should try to sneak them in with our broody buff orpington. We know the timing isn't quite right...chicks are little older...broody hen hasn't been broody long. Looking for advice on this.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Sounds like you already know the challenge...

You can try... my experience says a hen who hasn't been broody long enough won't bring the chicks out for a very long time... weeks. So make food and water available nearby during the day... and roll with it. Every hen is an individual... While I doubt success... you never know!

ETA.. I never had a hen be broody for the first time at 4 years old, have you had her tge whole time?

 

[StephanieZo]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Sounds like you already know the challenge...

You can try... my experience says a hen who hasn't been broody long enough won't bring the chicks out for a very long time... weeks. So make food and water available nearby during the day... and roll with it. Every hen is an individual... While I doubt success... you never know!

ETA.. I never had a hen be broody for the first time at 4 years old, have you had her tge whole time?

Thank you for your insight! Of all the things that could go wrong that have been rolling around in my head the last 24 hours, I had never thought about it taking longer for her to bring them out!

And yes, we have had her the whole 4 years, along with 3 other hens and this is the first time any of our hens have gone broody. I was completely shocked when I realized what was happening yesterday!

 

[StephanieZo]

Update: We took the chicks out this afternoon. Dawn accepted them and they have been underneath her ever since. We quickly set up a little enclosure around them and have been checking on them often.

 

[chickens really]

Hopefully it works....

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Good luck, and keep us posted! And we do like pictures!

And welcome!

 

[StephanieZo]

Everything is still going well so far! The "aunts" wanted to know what I was checking out in their coop this morning!

 

[clintbwell]

following

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Those little fluffers look so sweet under your hen!

 

[StephanieZo]

The new chicks turn 8 weeks old tomorrow and everything seems to be going right on track! They have been introduced to the flock, still hanging out with mom in the nesting box at night, but spending their days in the run or out in the yard with the rest of the girls. First time mom, Dawn, has done an excellent job!