swapping unfertilized eggs with baby chicks under broody hen

[ebertschic]

My 6 month old hen went broody and has started laying on a bunch of eggs that have no chance of hatching.

I have 25 baby chicks coming from TSC later this week...can I switch the eggs with the babies? Has anyone successfully done that? Is 25 too much to ask of her to take care of?

 

[sumi]

25 chicks are a lot for one hen to handle... I'd give her a couple, say 10 or 12, depending on how big she is. Wait until she's sleeping and go slip some of the chicks under her, removing the eggs at the same time. When she wakes in the morning watch her and check how she responds to the chicks and if she accepts them. Good luck!