Introducing new chicks to a broody

[Mrs J]

Hi
Could anyone give me some advice. My broody hatched 2 chicks 3 days ago. My incubated chicks hatched yesterday. I tried to introduce them to her this morning, she was fine at first but then she started attacking them Should I try again and put them in with her tonight? Or has that boat sailed?

 

[sourland]

After 3 days she is strongly imprinted on 'HER' chicks. Unless the younger chicks are identical in color she probably will not accept them. If you do try to foster them to her in the evening (the best time) get up early and closely monitor the situation.

 

[Mrs J]

After 3 days she is strongly imprinted on 'HER' chicks. Unless the younger chicks are identical in color she probably will not accept them. If you do try to foster them to her in the evening (the best time) get up early and closely monitor the situation.

That makes sense, her chicks are yellow, the 2 chicks I put with her, 1 is lavender-ish and the other is black. It was mainly the black one she was attacking

 

[Mrs. K]

I really don't think hens can count, maybe the color thing, but I would think it is more of a smell thing. I think it is a two way street - not only does it depend on the hen, but it also depends on the chicks. I would give it one more try, but as Mrs J says, be down there early in the morning.

I would make sure the foster chicks are fed and watered, then close to dark, put them outside, get them to peeping madly, in a highly distressed peeping, down near the coop. You want them kind of chilled, it won't kill them for 15 minutes, and you really do want them to be cold. That way when they find a warm spot, they are going to stay there.

Then in the dark, (I wear a long sleeved sweatshirt to keep from being pecked) with the bare minimal amount of light. Slip the chicks under her. They should burrow in tight to that warm spot and stop peeping immediately and go to sleep. They will get her smell on them and by morning it will obviously be a go, or not a go.

I have had very good luck with this. But nothing is fool proof.

Mrs K

 

[Mrs J]

Thank you both for your replies. My only concern is that she could attack them during the night. Is it true that chickens can’t see in the dark? She is also in an eglu so I’m guessing it would be dark inside until I open the door at 7:30 am