Reuniting baby chicks with mother

[Mach 1 Padilla]

I just had a hen hatch 10 baby chicks, i took out the first 7 to brood them, but the next day to my suprise she had 3 more. I left them in there with her (10’x15’ pin)for a week and she seems to be doing a good job, so i was thinking of maybe putting the other 7 under her at night. Will she see them as strangers or accept them? Im not sure of her breed she seems to have some gamefowl in her. The dad is a Full blooded Mug.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would not do it. Generally there's a short window of a day or two. At a week she will probably attack those chicks. Occasionally a hen will take anything and everything but those hens are rare.

 

[Mach 1 Padilla]

Ok thanks. Yea i guess ill just keep them in the brooder to be safe. Also i want to move 6 week old chicks into the same pin as her. Do you think there will be conflict with her trying to protect her 1 week old chicks.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Ok thanks. Yea i guess ill just keep them in the brooder to be safe. Also i want to move 6 week old chicks into the same pin as her. Do you think there will be conflict with her trying to protect her 1 week old chicks.

Every hen is different. She may ignore them or she may attack them. I guess you won't know until you try, but be ready to remove them, and watch them. The size of the pen will make a big difference too. If it's smaller I would not do it.

 

[SugarChick]

Add them in one or two at a time, but under close watch and close to dark

 

[KDMdesigns]

I would try it, I had a broody this spring.. She hatched the three eggs first, so pulled the chicks out since she still had another 6 Duck eggs to hatch within a week.. Once all the ducklings was hatched and retrieved out from nesting box I returned the first 3 hatched chicks in a week and she was fine with the adjustment.. Good Luck!