placing chicks under brooding hen

[barbee92040]

I removed the eggs and placed day old chicks under a hen who has been brooding for over 21 days. We placed them around 10 in the evening and 12 hours later , she is still sitting on the chicks. The chicks did eat and drink prior to being placed under her. How long before they need to eat and drink? How soon should she be up and moving?
We did this with the same hen a couple of years ago and all the babies flourished

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Many hens will remain on the nest for a few days. Put water and feed right within reach. She should start to feed them and call them out. I've had some hens remain on the nest up to a week before moving off.

 

[chickens really]

She will definitely Get up soon because the Chicks will begin to pop out from under her and stimulate her to move..

 

[sourland]

Generally their instincts prompt them to move somewhere around 36 hours after the chicks hatch.