Took broody hen off eggs replaced....

[oscar 1102]

Hi ,had to take our game hen off nest. First nest was almost ready to hatch when something (crows maybe) destroyed her nest. She immediatley took over another batch of a different hens eggs. She had been sitting on these eggs for over a month never wanting to leave it and go outside. Finally, I forced her outside and she had a fit, and the other hens attacked her (she was the first hen we got). She went back to the nest. I knew the eggs werent going to hatch, by now there is only three, the others were kicked out and broken. Yesterday, we went and brought week old babies for her. We got six. Put her in a nice cage and put in the babies at evening. She bit them and threw them, we took her out until today. Today we put her back in there with supervision she was better. We will go check on her soon. Is this normal behavior, or will she not accept them. We did leave the eggs in her cage , is that ok. She wont eat them will she

 

[Zaxby's2]

I've never tried giving a hen chicks but from what I've heard your supposed to get chicks a few days old or less and at night replace the eggs for the chicks. You could try that with your chicks but be careful she might not accept them it sounds like she didn't the first time

 

[oscar 1102]

Thanks

 

[Happy Chooks]

You can't give her week old babies. She won't accept them. You need to get day old babies and slip them under her at night. Even then there is no guarantee she will take them. I just did this with 4 EE babies and my Orp broody. My Orp would not accept them, but thankfully, my broody production red did.

 

[oscar 1102]

Thank you. I do not have any other hens broody right now, there are some laying eggs though. We have red stars and dominiques and some that look like red stars w/black tails. I am going to check on them. Was worried if she would eat them or something. If she isnt taking care of them I should take her out of cage and put back with everybody else, right?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Yes, if she won't mother them, she will likely kill them.