My broody hen has already hatched 3 chicks from her older eggs. She came off the nest with them, so I took them away and she went right back to the nest. She has been setting tight on the remaining eggs, which should hatch in a couple of days. Will she take her older chicks back after the younger ones hatch? Or am I going to have to brood them myself? I don't have an incubator, or I would put the eggs that haven't hatched yet in it and let her keep the older chicks, then try to give her back the younger ones.
What will the age difference be? I bet you could sneak them back under her when the others start to hatch.
2 to 3 days difference. I really hope she can brood them together, it would save me a lot of time and trouble! Plus, mama hens with their chicks are just sooo cute!