Only 1 chick survived hatching with broody hen. Is it easy/ok to purchase a few more to add?

[plumpybum]

I had a hen go broody so we gave her 6 eggs, only 2 hatched and one of the chicks died after a few days. So I have just 1 chick about 1 week old and a hen doing a good job taking care of it. I was thinking of buying a few more chicks to give her. I see someone near me with day old chicks available, so that would make these about 1 week younger than the solo chick I have now. Is this ok?

 

[The Coop Crew]

I’ve heard mixed things about this. I think some people have success and others don’t.
Let me tag a few people to see if they can help!
@HollowOfWisps
@Antiocheggers

 

[NatJ]

I had a hen go broody so we gave her 6 eggs, only 2 hatched and one of the chicks died after a few days. So I have just 1 chick about 1 week old and a hen doing a good job taking care of it. I was thinking of buying a few more chicks to give her. I see someone near me with day old chicks available, so that would make these about 1 week younger than the solo chick I have now. Is this ok?

It might work, or it might not.

The hen might refuse to take the new babies, because they look or act differently.
Or she might accept them just fine.
I've had either one happen.

If the hen accepts the chicks, there is a chance that she may expect them to follow her around like the week-old chick does, when they actually need more rests and more time to warm up. Or she may listen to their peeping and adjust how she acts, to provide what they need. I've seen either situation when adding younger chicks to an older batch.

I would say to try it if you want to, but be prepared in case you have to brood the new chicks yourself.

 

[The Coop Crew]

It might work, or it might not.

The hen might refuse to take the new babies, because they look or act differently.
Or she might accept them just fine.
I've had either one happen.

If the hen accepts the chicks, there is a chance that she may expect them to follow her around like the week-old chick does, when they actually need more rests and more time to warm up. Or she may listen to their peeping and adjust how she acts, to provide what they need. I've seen either situation when adding younger chicks to an older batch.

I would say to try it if you want to, but be prepared in case you have to brood the new chicks yourself.

Thank you! I have no experience with this but was trying to find someone who did! You’re the best!

 

[NatJ]

Thank you! I have no experience with this but was trying to find someone who did! You’re the best!

I have done it a number of times, with mixed results, so that's why my "it might..." kind of answers.

This is one of those things where individual hens vary so much there is no simple answer that works for all of them.

 

[The Coop Crew]

I have done it a number of times, with mixed results, so that's why my "it might..." kind of answers.

This is one of those things where individual hens vary so much there is no simple answer that works for all of them.

Which is what I thought and said but I wasn’t 100% sure so I’m glad you chimed in!

 

[Antiocheggers]

Thanks for the tag. I say go for it. Just be ready to Intervene. I've done this with my Brahma chicks.

 

[plumpybum]

Thanks for the feedback. Might look around and try to find some of the same age or slightly older instead of younger.

 

[NatJ]

Thanks for the feedback. Might look around and try to find some of the same age or slightly older instead of younger.

If you want to try it, I would go for the younger chicks.

There are two issues:
--whether the hen will accept the chicks
--whether the chicks will view the hen as "mother," follow her around, snuggle under her to keep warm, and so forth. For that, the younger the chicks, the better it works. Up to age 3 or 4 days has worked for me, but I don't think I've tried chicks much older than that (if they are shipped from a hatchery to a store, that means within about 2 days of when they arrive.)

Older chicks are more likely to be scared of the hen, instead of trusting her. And I think she is more likely to accept them if they stay close, and spend a lot of time snuggled underneath her, in the first few days. Of course some chicks will behave differently than others, and some hens are happy to mother anything and everything while some other hens are much more picky, so I can't say for sure. I just think you are more likely to have good results if the new chicks are a few days old, not much more.