Quick question! I don't have time to browse threads!

[AllMarthas]

OK, we had some losses. We also have a broody hen and a rare opportunity to just get a few day-old chicks. Can I just take the day olds and stick them under her? Will she think she hatched them and raise them as her own?

Also, we are out on the olympic peninsula....daytime highs are 60 at best and nighttime has been getting chilly. Is it too cold here to try and give broody hen new chicks? Should we heat the coop? Our girls are all Russian Orloffs. Available chicks will probably Buff Orps.

 

[AllMarthas]

OK, so I just found this gem of a link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/503722/how-to-put-day-old-chicks-under-a-broody-hen

And I'm working through it. Anyone have any input on heating though? My broody mama hen has chosen to brood on the ground under the coop. It's raised up about 18 inches, maybe. The area she is broody in is enclosed on two sides with hardware mesh, on one side with wood, and open on the other side to the rest of the run enclosed around the coop. Is this safe for babies?

 

[bops]

Ive seen stories of hens attacking the chicks so i would proceed with a lot of caution...

 

[sdm111]

I have a hen that was broody first time I switched eggs with chicks and she raised them second timeshe was ok for a couple days then started pecking at them so I had to take them out.

 

[Sweet Gum Farm]

What breed of chicken lays the best large brown eggs ,yet isn't broody and is a good forager ?