Old Wives Tale Or Not!?

[Irrintzina]

OLD WIVES TALE ??

I currently have 3 layers. I would like to add 2 more girls in the Spring. My grandmother swears that if you give your "Top of the Pecking Order," hen a tablespoon of Sherry at bedtime and then put the new chicks under her, she will accept them as her own and raise them when she wakes in the morning.
Any Ideas?
Do I dare try it?
Is it just an Old Wives Tale?
My grandparents have owned and worked a farm for 50 years.

 

[DillardHome]

Quote:
She may just think "what the cluck happened last night???!"

Maybe some BYC pros can weigh in on this one.

 

[chuckzoo]

Quote:
I'd take the Tablespoon of sherry myself, put the chicks under the hen and hope for the best

 

[DillardHome]

Quote:
I'd take the Tablespoon of sherry myself, put the chicks under the hen and hope for the best

ditto!

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

Quote:

 

[ranchhand]

I suspect it will only work if the hen is already broody. But yep, I'd keep the sherry for myself!

 

[Irrintzina]

Exactly what I was thinking! I just wanted some "non Nana & Papa" verification...

 

[donrae]

I've never heard this, but one thing to keep in mind is your grandma probably delt with not-hatchery birds, no? Probably hens that had more of a brooding instinct than many hatchery hens do nowadays. You could always try it and just keep an eye on the hen in the am. Hens have been known to kill chicks if they're not feeling particularly maternal

 

[Suechick]

I think it sounds dangerous, the chicks will almost certainly be dead by morning.
It is OK to add new full grown hens at night, but babies? no