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Introducing Week-old Chicks to Hen with Day-Old Chick

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It's been 16 hours and so far, so good! Hen is snuggling all the babies. All the chicks are getting along, eating from the feeder and drinking from the waterer. Mama left the nesting box for a stretch (and poop, of course,) but came right back to brood. I've been taking her some special treats for doing such a great job.

Is it safe to assume we're in the clear?

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Thanks for everyone's help!
 
JessG35 said:
It's been 16 hours and so far, so good! Hen is snuggling all the babies. All the chicks are getting along, eating from the feeder and drinking from the waterer. Mama left the nesting box for a stretch (and poop, of course,) but came right back to brood. I've been taking her some special treats for doing such a great job.

Is it safe to assume we're in the clear?

Thanks for everyone's help!
Click to expand...
Nice looking momma, and the chicks look so natural ...
 
I just tried to graft 6 chicks onto my first broody. She hatched 3 but I wanted more so I bought 6 two-day olds. Put them in at night, all seemed well. They stayed under momma but when I went to check on them this morning as they came out from under her to eat she pecked all 6 that were not the ones she hatched. She definately seemed to notice that they were different.
I removed them and put them in a brooder.
Should I wait and try again tonight or am I raising these babies on my own now?
 
I would maybe try again tonight. If there any of the chicks that are bigger or healthier, try one or two of them first, then maybe another two the next night. I ended up introducing our chicks a few at a time (we picked up 3 more in the following week!) and Daenerys seemed happy to add to her brood. Maybe your hen was a bit overwhelmed? It's just a thought. If she rejects them again, it might be safer to raise them separately until they're a bit bigger and can protect themselves.
 
mom-to-5 said:
I just tried to graft 6 chicks onto my first broody. She hatched 3 but I wanted more so I bought 6 two-day olds. Put them in at night, all seemed well. They stayed under momma but when I went to check on them this morning as they came out from under her to eat she pecked all 6 that were not the ones she hatched. She definately seemed to notice that they were different.
I removed them and put them in a brooder.
Should I wait and try again tonight or am I raising these babies on my own now?
Click to expand...


Chickens are like people in that aspect some people will not even take care of their own kids where other people with out assistance will take on twenty kids with out any problem at all ...

Your hen just might take care of them if you do in several more times but just keep an eye on her and don't let her hurt them but also let her get use to being around them .....

I have taken the chicks away from a momma chicken before and have her except a bunch back and again except nothing back ....
 
Ok. So maybe all hope I'd not lost yet??? I will try placing 3 of the 6 under her tonight and see what happens. Hopefully it goes a little better than previous.
I really didn't want to have to do the brooder thing but I will if I need to.
 
I placed three under her last night. No lights, or anything this time. Just slipt them under her, waited in the dark till the chicks were quiet and settlled then left. This morning I went to check on them and she was caring for all of them
yippiechickie.gif

So glad I did not give up!
Tonight I will place the other 3 under her and hopefully it goes just as smoothly....then no brooder for me, yippee!
Thank you JessG for suggesting I try again, I thought for sure she wasn't going to take them but I am very pleased.
 

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