Slipping more chicks under Momma Hen?!

[Grandchicks22]

Anyone ever had success adding new chicks under Momma hen with her 2 week old chicks?

Momma Orpington hatched 7 silkies and they are 2 weeks old!

I have 2 newly hatched Amercauna chicks to keep warm.

Would I be able to slip them under with the others during the night?

Any pointers or success stories?

 

[Yardmom]

Many hens see other chicks as a threat. Also when chicks are at 2 weeks the mom is on the move and does not sit on the chicks anywhere near as much as they do when they are 2 days old. I would advise not to try this

 

[sourland]

Generally hens imprint strongly on their chicks after a couple of days and regard others as 'strangers' or competition. Some hens on the other hand will readily accept additional chicks. If you try, monitor very closely.

 

[Isadora]

2 weeks sounds too long to me. I had success within a day or 2 with adding new babies but I don't think I would even try if they were a couple weeks old.

 

[Grandchicks22]

Generally hens imprint strongly on their chicks after a couple of days and regard others as 'strangers' or competition. Some hens on the other hand will readily accept additional chicks. If you try, monitor very closely.

Thanks! I’ll just mother them to be safe!

 

[gimmie birdies]

2 weeks is not a good idea. I would either take away the 2 week old ones, and try for a night switch, or you be the mom.

 

[Grandchicks22]

Most of my hens would peck and peck until they are gone, so not a good idea.
However, I have got two buff Orpingtons, and one hatched chicks about 3 weeks earlier than the other. But once the second ones hatched, the first mother excepted them, and both mothers raised them together.
So maybe, with the right hen, it can work, but on the whole it’s not a good idea.

I’ll bother them to be safe! Thank you

 

[Grandchicks22]

2 weeks sounds too long to me. I had success within a day or 2 with adding new babies but I don't think I would even try if they were a couple weeks old.

I’ll mother them! Thank you!

 

[Grandchicks22]

2 weeks is not a good idea. I would either take away the 2 week old ones, and try for a night switch, or you be the mom.

I’ll just mother them to be safe! Thanks

 

[fluffycrow]

As the others have said, two weeks is a little too much. Once her chicks reach 1 month, you can take them, and if she is still in broody mode, you can try and add the younger chicks then, she might accept them, and raise them from that point onward. But whatever you do, please be careful of the hens behaviour, she might change overnight