Need some feedback about broody with adoptive chicks

[kherring]

I have a hen who has been broody for about a month now. She was sitting on fertile eggs. My hubby and I went away and my inlaws collected the wrong eggs. They brought in the fertile ones. Sigh. She did have one hatch three days ago. Yesterday I bought some two day old chicks and put them under her so that her little one wouldn't be lonely. She is fine as long as they are under her, but as soon as they peek out or come out, she puffs up and she pecks them pretty hard pushing them toward her until they get back under her and then she settles back down and relaxes. Is this normal?

 

[Judy]

They usually keep them under themselves for a day or two, and let the chicks live off the yolk as well as let the rest of the eggs hatch (or so she may think) before they tke them out to teach them to eat, drink, forage, etc. Hopefully this will start soon. They will peck the chicks to tell them where to go, don't go so far, et.c. as part of raising them. Maybe it will alll work out.

 

[kherring]

It's very interesting. She's not kicking them out or trying to get away from them. She just absolutely does not want them out from under her.