To graft or not to graft

[LaurenRitz]

Opinion question. I have an inexperienced broody, about 10 months old. She is going broody for the first time.

My other broody is experienced, but I only gave her 6 eggs out of the 12 and put the others in the incubator. So these eggs have been incubating for about a week. That will put the young broody at about 2 weeks when they hatch. I have successfully grafted chicks as early as 8 days in with the experienced broody.

The young broody is currently sitting on a fake egg. She in pancaked and hissing. The other birds are leaving her strictly alone.

I am trying to decide if I should give her the eggs now and let her hatch them, or leave them in the incubator and give her the chicks. Or even split the batch?

 

[Yardmom]

I not sure anyone can answer for you as this is simply a choice to make. Here are a few thoughts for the decision. I personally don't count being a young broody in a negative category. Do you want brooder chicks? Or would you rather have hen raised chicks? I consider my hens to be better at keeping the temperature and humidity ideal than I am. What risks do you have for chicks with moms?

 

[LaurenRitz]

I always prefer broody raised.

I have had first time Moms abandon the nest halfway through, trample the eggs, or attack chicks after they hatch (that only happened once and I think I know why). Most of this doesn't happen with experienced broodies.

I can give her the eggs now or I can incubate them and give them to her later. If she doesn't take them I'll give them to my other broody, who will take anything that cheeps.