Last-minute broody

[schambo]

I have a few chicks hatching this week from a local breeder. I wasn’t expecting to have a broody, so I have a brooder for them, but Jellybean seems to have suddenly decided to sit. Any chance that after only about 3-4 days of brooding I could convince her to adopt chicks?

 

[NatJ]

I would say the chance is rather small, but given the situation you might try it and see. Just watch what happens, and be ready to rescue the chicks if she rejects them. They can die quite quickly, from cold or from being pecked by the hen.

I would expect most hens to reject chicks if they have been broody for such a short time. I've personally tried it twice in similar situations-- one hen accepted the chicks, the other did not.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Any chance that after only about 3-4 days of brooding I could convince her to adopt chicks?

As NatJ said, there is a chance. I generally don't give guarantees about what to expect with chickens and behaviors but in this case I'll make an exception. I guarantee you that if you don't try it she will not accept them.

Let us know what happens.