sneaking day old chicks under a broody

[Dumpling]

I had a marans that went broody four weeks ago. The eggs under her did not hatch ( high heat and humidity? here in W.Tenn). The eggs were smelly. So I cleaned the nest and put three new eggs under her. I ordered 15 mixed pullets from Mt. Healthy last Sunday, received them Fri. morning. I fed and watered them well all day Fir., and put the brooder box beside her pen so that she heard them for a couple of hours before dark. I then slipped all 16 (sent an extra) under her Fri. night after dark. I removed the THREE eggs from under her. She fussed a little but soon settled. The chicks instinctively wiggled under her, she started clucking. When I checked on them yesterday morning, there was a ring of little fuzzy heads peeking from under her. Yesterday as they left the nest and started eating, she pecked at some of them, and was a little grumpy, but did no harm. Last night they all settled in happily. This morning everyone is great. Little chicks are climbing all over her, playing and chirping. When I walked up she clucked and everyone flew to her. It was precious. (I'm happy- I have 15 pullets.)

 

[Beekissed]

I've done this a few times with great success and it is easier to do it under cover of darkness. This keeps the hen on the nest until daylight and gives her time to adjust to her newly "hatched" babies. The hens I had took to the babies immediately and were quite the mommy bears by the next morning~puffing up and threatening when you tried to touch their foster kids.

I would keep them separate from the rest of the flock for awhile until they get some agility in dodging head pecks from older hens and roo.

 

[ky chicks]

I just did this a few weeks ago. The advice I got on this forum was to slip them under her at night, so that's what I did, and it went perfectly! I was warned that she may kill them, but she was a great mama hen. I went out very early the next morning to check on them, and I don't think she had noticed them. When I went in and they started peeping, she looked very confused, then started clucking and arranging them under her. I had also asked if I should separate them from the rest of the flock, and the answer I got was that I shouldn't if she wasn't already separated by herself--the reasoning being that moving her would be another stress, and she may not accept the chicks. So, they are all together, they free range, and none of the other hens or rooster has bothered them a bit. I know I'm very lucky, and they are so cute pecking around in the yard!

 

[TheNat]

Our broody hen hatched hers out naturally so I have no experience putting chicks under hens, though a neighbor of ours did it with great success (and her hen hatched an egg of her own the next morning!). But I will say that our Rooster is very good with the chicks and doesn't peck them at all. The momma hen does a really good job of protecting them.