Surrogate Mom?

[EdistoChicks]

I bought some buff orph eggs on ebay. I have two orph's one is a nearly 5 month old pullet, the second was supposed to be a 5 month old pullet but is developing a large comb, waddles. I have eggs pipping as we speak, can I put the babies with the pullet, will she act as their mom or could she be too young? I was going to put them outside in a closed in area, but I could also keep them in a brooder inside. I just want to make sure these little ones make it!

 

[KellyHM]

She won't take care of them unless she is broody already.

 

[EdistoChicks]

I take it that they can't be broody until after they start laying? I know this particular pullet was very gentile with a group of guinea keets. They would hide under her. I guess I can keep them inside for a few weeks and then take them out. It is so hot out there, no heat lamp would be necessary out there

 

[abooth]

I put RIR chicks in with my silkie pullets that had never laid eggs (*although they are old enough to lay). The pullets and even the rooster parented the chicks beautifully. Honestly I didn't "put" the chicks with the silkies, the chicks adopted the silkies as their new parents after their own mother was killed by a predator. The silkies let the chicks snuggle up under them and everything.