Missing broody egg - can I give her a store bought chick now?

[JacinLarkwell]

Most people say to wait until about 14 days so it shouldn't matter it's a week early. And I would take the egg away. If you're willing to risk it, you can always try to give her two or three and then take the egg away.

 

[MarkJr]

Mine took her five at day 10 no problem. 2 in the afternoon. Lol.

Introduce after dark, as many as you want day old is best, or fresh delivered to your local feed store. Check at daylight to make sure she’s not pecking them. If it’s all good, remove egg if you want.... and let her do her thing.

 

[HippieAtHeart]

Mine took her five at day 10 no problem. 2 in the afternoon. Lol.

Introduce after dark, as many as you want day old is best, or fresh delivered to your local feed store. Check at daylight to make sure she’s not pecking them. If it’s all good, remove egg if you want.... and let her do her thing.

What would be a reason to keep the egg in the nest?

Also I have had challenges with my coop so my chickens all sleep in the nesting boxes/side shelf. Do you think they will be bothered by the chick and attack it super early or even at night? Should I wake up at 6:00 or earlier?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I would separate her with the fake egg and then add the chicks. Other birds may try to kill the chicks

 

[HippieAtHeart]

I would separate her with the fake egg and then add the chicks. Other birds may try to kill the chicks

How long would you separate them for? I worry with seperation as this hen is low in the pecking order and I feel integration back in with a chick would be difficult.

 

[MarkJr]

What would be a reason to keep the egg in the nest?

Also I have had challenges with my coop so my chickens all sleep in the nesting boxes/side shelf. Do you think they will be bothered by the chick and attack it super early or even at night? Should I wake up at 6:00 or earlier?

Keep the egg in case she rejects chicks. Basically an anchor. If you can’t at least give the hen her own cubby to keep chicks isolated from the rest, I’d separate like suggested above. My broody will raise chicks in nesting boxes right along beside other layers no problem.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

How long would you separate them for? I worry with seperation as this hen is low in the pecking order and I feel integration back in with a chick would be difficult.

I kept mine separated with chicks for about 5 weeks. Most wait until the chicks are weaned and then just introduce all of them at once

 

[HippieAtHeart]

Keep the egg in case she rejects chicks. Basically an anchor. If you can’t at least give the hen her own cubby to keep chicks isolated from the rest, I’d separate like suggested above. My broody will raise chicks in nesting boxes right along beside other layers no problem.

She has her own cubby so I’m wondering if she wouldn’t just be fine. I was thinking about hanging curtains so maybe I’ll do that to make so the other hens can’t just walk along the edge of it like they do

 

[JacinLarkwell]

She has her own cubby so I’m wondering if she wouldn’t just be fine. I was thinking about hanging curtains so maybe I’ll do that to make so the other hens can’t just walk along the edge of it like they do

That may work

 

[KiwiandPeachthePigeons]

My Silkie hen is a sitting on eggs but she also “adopted” a pair of two week old chicks. They’re in a small coop with her and she makes sure they’re safe and fed and they sleep under her at night. She gets really protective over them and even gets off her eggs to make sure they are ok.