Pullet raising large number of chicks?

[RodNTN]

Hi! As of right now, I have 18 eggs in the incubator. They are all from my backyard flock, so most if not all of the chicks will be standard size. I have an Ayam Cemani pullet who I am thinking is broody. She has been clucking all this week (she hasn't laid any eggs). She is 10 months old.
Tonight I was closing my flock up for the night and she was sitting on a few eggs in the nest, I tried to gather them all and she puffed up, pecked my hand, and growled like crazy.
She was broody a few months ago, I didn't give her any eggs, and she gave up after 2 whole months of being a stubborn broody.

Soo... my question is: Do you think she could handle 18 standard sized chicks? She isn't too small, about the size of a White Leghorn hen, give or take a bit. I candled the eggs a couple of days ago, and all were viable. Today is day 14. All may not hatch, so she may not have to mother all 18.

Here is Blackberry:

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[CiscoChickens]

Even for a big chicken, 18 babies is a lot. Generally, 12 or so is the limit. I am also guessing that this would be her first time raising babies? It would be best to put the eggs under her and let her hatch them herself, rather then shoving chicks under her on day 21. A first time mom will think the chicks are invading her nest if (1) she's never seen chicks before and (2) if they weren't hatched under her.

All in all, you're right about one thing: not all the eggs will make it. But trying to warm up even 10 GROWING babies is a lot to handle the first time around! I say put 12 or less under broody this time, and the rest in the Bator. If not all the ones under broody hatch (and some in the Bator do) slip those under her at night.

 

[RodNTN]

Even for a big chicken, 18 babies is a lot. Generally, 12 or so is the limit. I am also guessing that this would be her first time raising babies? It would be best to put the eggs under her and let her hatch them herself, rather then shoving chicks under her on day 21. A first time mom will think the chicks are invading her nest if (1) she's never seen chicks before and (2) if they weren't hatched under her.

All in all, you're right about one thing: not all the eggs will make it. But trying to warm up even 10 GROWING babies is a lot to handle the first time around! I say put 12 or less under broody this time, and the rest in the Bator. If not all the ones under broody hatch (and some in the Bator do) slip those under her at night.

Thanks! I don't plan to let her be their only heat source. I thought about letting her raise them under a heat lamp.

 

[RodNTN]

Also, I am leaving the eggs in the incubator until they hatch. And then I'll see if she'll adopt them.

 

[RoseMar]

Hi! As of right now, I have 18 eggs in the incubator. They are all from my backyard flock, so most if not all of the chicks will be standard size. I have an Ayam Cemani pullet who I am thinking is broody. She has been clucking all this week (she hasn't laid any eggs). She is 10 months old.
Tonight I was closing my flock up for the night and she was sitting on a few eggs in the nest, I tried to gather them all and she puffed up, pecked my hand, and growled like crazy.
She was broody a few months ago, I didn't give her any eggs, and she gave up after 2 whole months of being a stubborn broody.

Soo... my question is: Do you think she could handle 18 standard sized chicks? She isn't too small, about the size of a White Leghorn hen, give or take a bit. I candled the eggs a couple of days ago, and all were viable. Today is day 14. All may not hatch, so she may not have to mother all 18.

Here is Blackberry:
View attachment 1347280

View attachment 1347282

Thanks so much in advance!

My mom once put an order of 24 chicks under a bantam hen. She took care of all of them. You will just have to keep them in a warm place as all will not fit well under her feathers during the cold hours. Keep in mind she may not take them at all. It is best to slip the chicks under her at night in the dark. Then watch to see what happens and especially when the daylight comes. Hens can hurt baby chicks if they reject them.

 

[CiscoChickens]

Let me know how it goes! I don't know if raising eggs under a broody and under a heat source is a good idea for the hen (assuming she's an outside girl). But I trust whatever you're doing will work for your situation. Good luck!

 

[RodNTN]

My mom once put an order of 24 chicks under a bantam hen. She took care of all of them. You will just have to keep them in a warm place as all will not fit well under her feathers during the cold hours. Keep in mind she may not take them at all. It is best to slip the chicks under her at night in the dark. Then watch to see what happens and especially when the daylight comes. Hens can hurt baby chicks if they reject them.

Wow! 24? That's what I planned to do, keep them in the brooder under the heat lamp. And occasionally let them outside on warm days

 

[RodNTN]

Let me know how it goes! I don't know if raising eggs under a broody and under a heat source is a good idea for the hen (assuming she's an outside girl). But I trust whatever you're doing will work for your situation. Good luck!

Okay! It has pretty warm lately (70+ degree weather) so I thought I'd keep them in the brooder at night and let them outside sometimes.

 

[song of joy]

When the chicks hatch, she will only have been broody for 7 days, so the risk is that she may not transition from setting to mothering when you try to foster the chicks to her. It's worth a try though. I'd recommend putting 2 or 3 newly-hatched chicks (less than 24 hours old) under her at night to see how she reacts. If she accepts them, add several additional chicks the following night.

With home-flock eggs the hatch rate can be quite high, so you may get 15+ chicks. I had a broody hen raise 14 last year, but it was August so heat wasn't the issue that it can be in early spring.

 

[RodNTN]

When the chicks hatch, she will only have been broody for 7 days, so the risk is that she may not transition from setting to mothering when you try to foster the chicks to her. It's worth a try though. I'd recommend putting 2 or 3 newly-hatched chicks (less than 24 hours old) under her at night to see how she reacts. If she accepts them, add several additional chicks the following night.

With home-flock eggs the hatch rate can be quite high, so you may get 15+ chicks. I had a broody hen raise 14 last year, but it was August so heat wasn't the issue that it can be in early spring.

I know, and if it doesn't work I won't be disappointed, this was just an idea I'll let you all know how it goes!