passing the buck "cheating" update failed" :(

[PatriciafromCO]

picked up my new chicks this morning, went straight to the barn where I have some long setting broody hens on some failed eggs and just opened the chick box, put them under the hen and walked away. She loves them !!! Yay, for cheating lol.. Been wanting to try that for a long time. Came back after hoping they do some first exposure bonding and took each chick to show water and food. At this point they are thriving, eating drinking and crawling back under mamma hen.

 

[sourland]

Happy you, happy chicks, happy momma hen. Now, how about some more chicks for the other hens.

 

[orloffer]

Congratulations on a successful chick/broody hen introduction!

 

[PatriciafromCO]

Happy you, happy chicks, happy momma hen. Now, how about some more chicks for the other hens.

Yes.. my second batch of chicks is coming beginning of Aug. My hens are 6 years old. I do have a second instant mamma in mind to hope she takes to them too. Always love my girls...

 

[PatriciafromCO]

am sadden to report.. as evening approached and the temps cooling off mamma was rejecting them. didn't want to take a chance they get chilled over night, so I set up their area. Is the first time I am using a new brooder heater instead of the heat lamps. So far the babies went right under and stretched out sleeping... They seem to like it.

 

[Acre4Me]

Sorry to hear that momma rejected them!

If you try again in Aug, don’t use that same momma bc maybe she’s a good broody, but not a good momma. Also wait until it is dark and she is settled on her nest. Then, in the dark place the chicks under momma. We’ve had success with this method, up to 5 day old chicks, using a broody that was broody for at least 2.5 weeks, to over 3 weeks broody.

 

[M Brennen]

am sadden to report.. as evening approached and the temps cooling off mamma was rejecting them. didn't want to take a chance they get chilled over night, so I set up their area. Is the first time I am using a new brooder heater instead of the heat lamps. So far the babies went right under and stretched out sleeping... They seem to like it.View attachment 2259544

This is the first year I used the heat plate. I loved it! Much less stress.