Hi Journeys End,
I Also Have A Hen Sitting On 7 Eggs. Day 8 For The Second Time Around.
The First Clutch Was Ravaged By Other Hens Or The Sitter New The Eggs Were Dead......i Heard They Can Tell And They Will Eat The Eggs Or Push Them Aside So, I Ended Up With One Egg And It Was Expired.
I Also Had The Nesting Box Open At All Times So The Other Hens Disturbed Her Eggs...(learned A Lesson There)
So, We Have Another New Clutch Under Her Because She Was Not Breaking Her Broody Spell And I Felt Bed. She Is A Champ And Has Been Sitting For Almost Six Weeks Now. I Wonder Constantly How She Is Holding Up But She Is Amazing. She Leaves The Box Everyday And Eats, Poops, And Bathes. Then Back To The Nesting Box. I'm So Proud Of Her...........
Now To Your Question, (sorry I Get Carried Away..) She Will Protect Her New Babies Until She Feels That They Can Carry On With Out Her Or She Just Decides To Join The Others Permanately...the New Babies Will Take Care Of Themselves. Just Wait Untill They Are Mature And Big Enough To Fend For Them Selves.
I Would Slowly Introduce Them And Keep A Careful Eye On Whats Going On.....study Them And Their Behaviors
It's Best To Do This Late In The Day And Let Them Go Inside With The Others. The Oldies Will Wake Up And Think The New Ones Are Part Of The Group....it Is Different For Everyone I Think. I Don't Think We Ever Really Make Mistakes On Purpose, We Just Have To Be Smart And Ready To Step In When We Need To But It's Really Best To Let Them Do Their Own Order Of Acceptance.
Ok, Good Luck...keep Us Posted..
