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

[MarkJr]

I think she will be fine even without curtains. Is there enough of a lip to contain mobile chicks for a day? If the chicks can’t get back up/in it can be an issue for the first bit until she switches from egg hatching mode to momma hen mode.

 

[Willow2253]

What I did with my last broody was move her nest to the floor and then block off a small area around her in the coop. We let her out during the day when everyone was off free ranging and they would come back before everyone too. So if your set up allows that, you can block off an area for her in the coop.

 

[HippieAtHeart]

Can I give her a less than a week old chick? Only one of my local feed places has chicks and the lady wasn’t sure when they got them last week nor if or when they would get more in

 

[MarkJr]

Negative. They won’t imprint on hen.

 

[HippieAtHeart]

Negative. They won’t imprint on hen.

Well then I guess I’ll have to break her brooding because no place is selling chicks young. The people at the feeds stores that have chicks were less then helpful as to when they got those chicks or when or if they will be getting more. What is the oldest age 2/3 days?

 

[MarkJr]

You have to remember the chicks delivered to stores are technically 2 days old by the time they are in store brooders for sale.

I’d say same day received or next day received at feed store will work. After that, acceptance tapers off. For what it’s worth I have no experience grafting older chicks. Just what I’ve read. My broody got same day chicks from my local seller.

 

[HippieAtHeart]

You have to remember the chicks delivered to stores are technically 2 days old by the time they are in store brooders for sale.

I’d say same day received or next day received at feed store will work. After that, acceptance tapers off. For what it’s worth I have no experience grafting older chicks. Just what I’ve read. My broody got same day chicks from my local seller.

I call another feed store and they said they are expecting some new chicks this week I just need to call in the mornings. What time at night did you stick the chicks under your broody?

 

[MarkJr]

My broody took them at 2pm.

My broody would probably set on a tennis shoe for two months and adopt a Great Dane pup if given the right opportunity.

I’d get the chicks. Keep them isolated and warm, read this as don’t handle them. Then slide them under her after dark. This will give the chicks a chance to figure out the warm hen is safe, and give the hen overnight to hear these little things under her. When you introduce, ive heard you slide them under without her seeing them.
Good luck!!

 

[HippieAtHeart]

My broody took them at 2pm.

My broody would probably set on a tennis shoe for two months and adopt a Great Dane pup if given the right opportunity.

I’d get the chicks. Keep them isolated and warm, read this as don’t handle them. Then slide them under her after dark. This will give the chicks a chance to figure out the warm hen is safe, and give the hen overnight to hear these little things under her. When you introduce, ive heard you slide them under without her seeing them.
Good luck!!

Lol thank you!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I gave my girl 4 turken chicks after she hatched 4 eggs. I took them down one at a time a few hours apart and she took each one. It ended up one in afternoon, one in evening, one in morning, one in afternoon