Too risky to give chicks to 1.5 week broody hen?

[mtma]

I will have several chicks hatch this week in my classroom. Originally I thought they'd be brooder chicks, but I much prefer hens raising their own. Several days ago four of our hens went broody, and I have been letting them set on fake eggs. All four have been historically broody, but I haven't let them hatch yet. My question - is it too risky to try giving 3ish day old chicks to one (at night, in our separate "maternity coop") to see if they accept each other? I know 1.5 weeks isn't ideal, but I have heard of it working. We would choose the best hen...one is SUPER mean when broody, so she probably wouldn't be the best. One is broody every year, but is 6 years old. Too old? The other two are 2 years old and sweet as can be. Thoughts?

 

[21hens-incharge]

What breeds are the broodies?

All you can do is try. I don't think 6 years old is to old. If she has raised chicks before she would be my choice.

 

[mtma]

What breeds are the broodies?

All you can do is try. I don't thing 6 years old is to old. If she has raised chicks before she would be my choice.

Thank you for your reply! She hasn't ever raised chicks, but has been broody every year. She is a buff orpington mix, two are blue copper marans (mean mom and sweet daughter), and the other is an olive egger mix. All are farm-hatched birds.

 

[mtma]

Update: She took them! We used the 6 yr old broody who has never been a mother and she had all 9 that hatched in my classroom incubator nestled in under her this morning. The chicks were 2-3 days old.

 

[cute chicks here]

I let my 8 year old broody hen sit on 7 eggs and she had never had the chance before. She hatched 3 and they are doing great. They are now 2 weeks old and she thinks they are her own.

 

[mtma]

We're ready to try it again on the 17th! Classroom hatch is happening this week and my two broody sisters (6 years old) are the black astrolorps in my profile picture.

 

[mtma]

Year 2 of classroom hatch/hen adoption update:
Mom finally took them, on night 2. She was too pecky and seemed agitated on night 1 so we brought them back in the house. Last night we put a couple directly under her wing and she seemed good so we set the next ones in front one by one and they ran under to meet their siblings. I don’t know they really knew what to do the first night, so I learned that it’s better to help them find their place under the hen at first. In retrospect she was probably just trying to get them tucked in, but it seemed a little rough for our comfort. All 6 had a great night with momma hen last night!