Rejected chicks

[Jessperowne]

Hi

I had two clutches of eggs hatch within 48 hours of each other.
One hen is doing a great job but the other hen killed her babies apart from 2 chicks. I took the remaining two inside and had them under a brooder for two weeks.

I’d like them to be outside now and I am wondering if I can introduce them to the other good mum hen and her babies. They are the same age/breed etc.

I tired earlier today and she just ignored the two new ones, pecking at them a bit if they came too close.

My concern is that when the chicks all snuggled under her to get warm, the two new chicks stayed away in a corner looking cold.

Any advice would be so helpful- what should I do and how?!

Thank you oh wise chicken people

 

[sourland]

She will likely reject/peck at them as she is already imprinted on her chicks.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’d like them to be outside now and I am wondering if I can introduce them to the other good mum hen and her babies. They are the same age/breed etc.

I tired earlier today and she just ignored the two new ones, pecking at them a bit if they came too close.

If you had put them under her at the start there is a pretty good chance it would have worked. But that was two weeks ago.

You tried and she rejected them. I'd quit trying. Maybe after she weans her chicks you can integrate the two with the others. That might or might not work.