Not a good start with introducing chicks to my Broody hen.

[Messipaw]

I'm so upset. I have three nine day old chicks that we tried to introduce to our broody Easter Egger. What a disaster. We did everything we were supposed to. We did it in the dark in the brooder. We removed the ceramic eggs and placed a baby Chick under her. Waited a few then placed the others. The chicks loved her but she was spitting and growling and pecked real nasty. This is so upsetting.
Any suggestions?

 

[Stiggy]

they are to old, she will not accept them. also they are not known for their mothering skills, its possible a silkie or pekin banty would accept them. they wont smell right or sound right to her. chances are she will not accept them, especially not without blood shed, I think you woukld be best to build a brooder and hand raise them for now

 

[creepygothnursi]

They're way too old. I don't think they can be more than three days or so to fool a broody into accepting them. Also, what the other poster said about EEs not making great mothers has been my experience as well- my 6 EEs are all bat poo crazy and I can't imagine trusting them with a chick. If you really want to try again with this particular hen you could get fertilized eggs or younger chicks, but you'll probably have to raise these particular chicks in a brooder yourself.

 

[Brookliner]

I use a bantam cochin hen for my broody she will accept chicks up to 3 days old. Silkies are a good choice too.

 

[Messipaw]

Thank you all for your replies. I'm so disappointed but I guess happy that I didn't do anything wrong. I'll keep the little girls in my home made brooder for now and I guess eventually expand it until they can go outside. I have six two year old hens and my EE is the only one who has ever gone broody. Now I know never to try with her again. All the utube videos I watched made it look so easy. Lol lol oh well.
Thank you again.

 

[happyhens1972]

It doesn't necessarily mean you can't try with her again but if you do, you need younger chicks....nine days is too old for any adoption to be a likely success. There will be plenty of exceptions of course but as a rule, three days or younger is best.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

Sometimes it works; other times it don't. Chickens don't always do what we want them to.

 

[Stiggy]

Agreed if you want something to raise chicks I would suggest getting/borrowing a hen that is known for its mothering ability and or has proven so before

 

[cochinfan05]

I know this thread is a couple weeks old but quick question. At this very moment I have chicks hatching under 2 broodies, both standard cochins. "Thumper" is a proven mama. Has hatched and raised in the past and always done very well. This is "Angel's" first time being broody and she has only been broody for about a week. I stole one of Thumper's eggs and stuck it under "Angel"....Well the egg hatched and I went out and found it peeping like crazy about a foot away from her. I instantly grabbed it and took it to "Thumper" who gladly took it in to warm it up. I would like "Angel" to raise a chick but I'm not sure if I can trust her. Was it a rookie mistake? Should I put it back under her tonight after dark? I tend to over think this stuff and any info would be welcome.

 

[Stiggy]

I think it would be a good idea to let Thumper keep this one. If you give Angel some eggs you can see if she is going to be a good mother or not. She will need to actually sit on eggs for a while to get used to it so to speak. Chances are she is confused as to why there was suddenly a chick.