Question about my broody hen

[Pullet Press]

(Sorry if this is in the wrong section)

Earlier this week, I noticed that one of my BCM hens was acting off (evidently, she is broody). I don't know when she first went broody.
I want to get some chicks for her to raise (I have no rooster and this is her first time raising chicks). Do I just get some 2 weeks from now (as she most likely went broody a week ago) and put them under her at night time? Do y'all have any tips on doing this?

 

[sourland]

That should work. Good luck.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Let her continue to mind the eggs she's sitting until you make the switcheroo.

 

[Mrs. K]

There is a couple of tricks that I have used to get this to work. Often times people blame the broody hen, when part of it is the chicks fault. You need to get both to do it and make a bond.

Get as close to day old chics as you can. Make sure they have a drink of water, and a bit to eat. You need to put them in there in the dark at night. 15 minutes before you put them under her, they need to get a bit cool. Set them outside, they should peep madly. This will not kill them, but they need to be wanting badly to be warm. Let the broody listen to them for a bit. Do not rush this part, they truly need to be a bit cool.

Wearing a long sleeve sweatshirt, using as little light as possible and a pair of gloves, stick the chick under neath her, just shove them in there. Now that cold chick is going burrow into that warm place like a tick, not leaving that spot. Sometimes what happens is people put warm chicks in front of the broody. The chicks does not recognize this as a good place, the hen does not recognize the chick, and it does not work. By morning, the chick will smell right to the hen, and the chick will realize that this a good place to be.

But by doing it in the dark, with the chilled chick, with in moments, the chicks should nearly be silent. The hens clucking will change, she will shift around. At that time, the hardest thing to do, but the most important is to leave. Leave them alone to work it out. Again people trying to be kind interfere, and then are horrified when it doesn't work.

Mrs K

 

[Pullet Press]

Thanks for all of y'all's answers! They're all very informative.
If you'd like, I can update you in a couple weeks.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Thanks for all of y'all's answers! They're all very informative.
If you'd like, I can update you in a couple weeks.

Yes, Please do!

 

[Pullet Press]

Okay, I just put the chicks in with my hen (I purchased them earlier today).
I put them under her and she pecked them a little. The chicks are now under her and she only pecks them if they stick their heads out. If that's not normal, let me know.
So far, so good, idk, tho.

 

[Pullet Press]

Oh, and I took the eggs she was sitting on out from under her.

 

[Mrs. K]

Just leave them. By morning it will be a done deal.

Mrs K

 

[Pullet Press]

Just went to feed the hens and checked on the chicks. I guess I hadn't closed one of the doors all the way, because I found one of the chicks out of my hens' enclosure. She was fine and must have just escaped. I put her back in with her momma and they all are doing well, minus another one that disappeared that I couldn't find. Other than that, she's taken them pretty well.