Surrogate Hen

[ChickenDoDoDo]

I have a mother (Amaraucana) sitting on two 3 day old chicks, I just brought home three 3 day old Sebright Bantams.

How could I go about surrogating them to the mom? Can I? How would I know if she was going to accept them or not?

Any advice! First time doing this

 

[azygous]

Each hen is different. You wont know how willing she will be to adopt chicks until you try.

Some suggest putting the new chicks under her at night. But I would worry what she might do to them when she wakes up to find foreigners in her nest. You wouldn't be around if things went badly.

I tried this myself, adding some store bought day-olds to a single newly hatched chick under a broody. It went sideways immediately. The hen flew into a rage and began pecking at the newcomers. I ended up snatching up all the chicks, including her single one, and brooding them myself.

On the other hand, I've had an older hen go partially broody after exposure to new chicks and adopt them at around four weeks old. She did it twice and cared for her "chicks" until they were four months old.

It helps if the chicks are the same age as the ones the broody has, so you're good on that count. You will just need to play it by ear and see what happens.

Please let us know how it goes.

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

Each hen is different. You wont know how willing she will be to adopt chicks until you try.

Some suggest putting the new chicks under her at night. But I would worry what she might do to them when she wakes up to find foreigners in her nest. You wouldn't be around if things went badly.

I tried this myself, adding some store bought day-olds to a single newly hatched chick under a broody. It went sideways immediately. The hen flew into a rage and began pecking at the newcomers. I ended up snatching up all the chicks, including her single one, and brooding them myself.

On the other hand, I've had an older hen go partially broody after exposure to new chicks and adopt them at around four weeks old. She did it twice and cared for her "chicks" until they were four months old.

It helps if the chicks are the same age as the ones the broody has, so you're good on that count. You will just need to play it by ear and see what happens.

Please let us know how it goes.

I've done the tuck them under wing at night trick with great success a few times before, and also done a take a chick away from her and give 2 back trick when I had an unplanned staggered hatch and needed to finish some in the incubator. She was upset about her baby chirping when I grabbed it, and didn't notice the extra and then I could watch her. I think I would prefer the night time option, but set an alarm for right before dawn so you can make sure things are good if you go that route.

 

[ChickenDoDoDo]

I've done the tuck them under wing at night trick with great success a few times before, and also done a take a chick away from her and give 2 back trick when I had an unplanned staggered hatch and needed to finish some in the incubator. She was upset about her baby chirping when I grabbed it, and didn't notice the extra and then I could watch her. I think I would prefer the night time option, but set an alarm for right before dawn so you can make sure things are good if you go that route.

She is a very protective Mama, almost hisses if you get too close her and the babies, I am not sure if I am going to try the surrogating... my Husband is really excited for these bantams and I would feel bad if something went wrong

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

She is a very protective Mama, almost hisses if you get too close her and the babies, I am not sure if I am going to try the surrogating... my Husband is really excited for these bantams and I would feel bad if something went wrong

I understand completely. However, that's totally normal. I was really brave last night and gave 4 Easter egger chicks to a long time broody with no babies that I thought was getting a little thin. She hissed at me because I was getting close, but completely fell in love with the chicks overnight. I kept going back to make sure things were good and that they were still under her and not out and getting chilled and that she was calm. Then i got up early and checked again. I'll be going to bed earlier tonight!

 

[ChickenDoDoDo]

I understand completely. However, that's totally normal. I was really brave last night and gave 4 Easter egger chicks to a long time broody with no babies that I thought was getting a little thin. She hissed at me because I was getting close, but completely fell in love with the chicks overnight. I kept going back to make sure things were good and that they were still under her and not out and getting chilled and that she was calm. Then i got up early and checked again. I'll be going to bed earlier tonight!

Is there pros and cons to a brooder vs mother hen? First time chicken owner and have never done this before we just got the mother and 2 babies off of someone else a few days ago, so I cant even tell you her temperment

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

Is there pros and cons to a brooder vs mother hen? First time chicken owner and have never done this before we just got the mother and 2 babies off of someone else a few days ago, so I cant even tell you her temperment

There are tons of threads on here about that topic. I like broody raised babies because she does all the work and then you don't have to introduce them to the flock and integrate them later. Yours will already be smaller than the other ones, so that might make it easier in the long run. Plus it is so cute to see them follow her around and eat the bugs she finds, etc.

 

[ChickenDoDoDo]

There are tons of threads on here about that topic. I like broody raised babies because she does all the work and then you don't have to introduce them to the flock and integrate them later. Yours will already be smaller than the other ones, so that might make it easier in the long run. Plus it is so cute to see them follow her around and eat the bugs she finds, etc.

We havent even introduced the mama to the flock yet, we still have her seperated with the babies. And I can imagine how adorable that would be

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

We havent even introduced the mama to the flock yet, we still have her seperated with the babies. And I can imagine how adorable that would be

Wow, how many more do you have? Lots of threads here about flock integration too.

 

[ChickenDoDoDo]

Wow, how many more do you have? Lots of threads here about flock integration too.

We have 6, three year old mixed breeds, 1, one year old Ayam Cemani Rooster, 5, eight week old Amaraucanas, 2, eight week old Silkies, 3, one year old White Leghorns, and we just took in the mama and her 2 babies, and just got the Sebrights today. A grand total of 23. We will be keeping the Silkies and Sebrights in their own coop, and are undecided which flock we will be putting the Amaraucanas in. I will be researching the best way to integrate all of them Im open to all tips and tricks