Is it too late to introduce new chicks?

[rosawoodsii]

One of my Silkies hatched out two RR chicks last week. Another hen sat unsuccessfully on some eggs, and today I went out and got 6 chicks, about a week old, and put 4 of them under the setting hen. She's accepted them very well, but I'm still debating whether to put the last 2 under her or under the first Silkie. I'd like to put them under the first so they have an even number of chicks.

 

[gritsar]

I've done it when the singleton chick was 5 days old, but it really depends on the silkie.

 

[rosawoodsii]

Well, on the strength of your reply, and remembering a wonderful NH Red hen I had that raised 2 broods in succession (and this hen had never laid an egg the whole time I had her) and probably would have done more had dogs not gotten her, I put the two chicks under Silkie #1. She looked--startled, but within moments started crooning to them. I checked on them 10 minutes later and there were four little chicks peeking out from under her wings. I'll know better in the morning if it's a success.

 

[gritsar]