***UPDATED- Advice Needed (Hens are smarter than we think...)

[wildcrafted]

So Clementine hatched out 8 chicks a month ago and we snuck in 2 more chicks the next day that we picked up at the Feed store. We had every intention of waiting until night to slip the little hatchlings into the coop. Well...I started getting worried that the chicks weren't warm enough and put them in the coop before night. Mama Hen immediately noticed them....walked right up to one and put her eye up against her (like...hey...I know I didn't hatch any white leghorns)...looked upset for a minute or so but then just as quickly accepted her into the fold. (the other chick was weak and sick and died the next day). Anyhow...There was a big love fest. Dolly (the feed store chick) slept on her mom daily and all was well and good until today.

I noticed Clementine trying to lay an egg this morning. She was back to trumpeting and chatting at me like she used to before she went broody. She did indeed lay an egg, so clearly her hormonal mama bear state had ended, and they all went out to free range. Well little Dolly got separated at one point and did the usual panicked 'mama come find me!' call. Clem came running, Dolly ran up to her and it looked like it was going to be a happy reunion. When Clem realized it was Dolly she started chasing her away from the group and pecking at her! Poor Dolly. I watched it happen over and over while all the chicks she hatched were treated like normal.

Just goes to show how smart these chickens are. Here I thought I had fooled her into thinking Dolly was one of hers but clearly she knew the whole time she was an 'intruder'. Her Mama Bear hormones made her soften and take her in but she knew and the instant those hormones dropped she kicked Dolly to the curb.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

a month is too much of a disparity to add day old chicks

 

[N F C]

Poor Dolly, orphaned again. Nice that Clementine took her in when she needed a mama the most.

 

[wildcrafted]

Ooops. Sorry if that wasn't clear. The Chicks were only a day old when Dolly moved in. She was the same age and size.

 

[N F C]

a month is too much of a disparity to add day old chicks

I didn't take it that way...it sounds as though the chicks were hatched and the next day is when the OP put the 2 new little ones under Clementine.

That's how it reads to me anyway, maybe @wildcrafted can clarify?

 

[wildcrafted]

Yes! I feel so sad for her but the other chicks all treat her kindly still so I know she will be fine. She can still trail about a foot behind mama but god help her if she gets any closer than that!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I stand corrected. I reread and saw it was the next day.

That should have worked, especially if they were added after dark.

 

[azygous]

That's very interesting about Clem rejecting the adopted chick after all this time. I am constantly learning new things about chickens.

 

[wildcrafted]

Mama and Dolly in better times.

 

[N F C]

Nice photo!