If I take a 2 day old chick (or two) from her, will she get upset? If I swap chicks with her, will she know? I was thinking of taking two from our incubator and swapping them for 2 that are under momma. All were hatched yesterday. Also, can they count? Do they know how many chicks they have? TIA
Just depends on the chicken. You won't know til you try. She could accept a new chick or she could kill it.
It all depends on the hens. I have easy-going Silkie hens and I do things like that all the time. The chicks are the ones to decide that's my mama and they're responsible for keeping up. The broody will choose a nest to set in at night and the babies hop up and tuck under her, but she will not go chasing strays. I don't know how many times I've had a chick adopt themselves to other broodies and no matter how many times I put them in the right nest, they'd adopt themselves out again! It usually only works if they're about the same size/age. I would make sure to leave the broody at least 1 chick for her emotional well being but it doesn't have to be one of the ones she hatched.
