We know broody hens. How about a nanny hen?

[azygous]

I have a ten-year old GLW named Su-su. A few years back she went partially broody while I was raising chicks, and she adopted them when they were six weeks old. She raised them and cared for them until they were four months old. Now she's decided to adopt my four newest Blue Australorpe pullets.

She's very gentle with them and she permits them to climb on her and snuggle with her. This is only during the day since the chicks have their heating pad, and Su-su spends her nights in the coop with her friends.

I give her meal worms or other things to eat, and she shares most of it with the chicks.

I discovered Su-su's talent for being a nanny when I decided to stick her in with the chicks due to her being harassed for being lame. Su-su is able to stick up for herself, but due to her lameness, it exhausts her. So she gets to relax in a safe place, and the chicks have a nanny hen.

 

[sourland]

Looks like the rest of the flock is jealous.

 

[centrarchid]

I have seen similar, also with older hens. The induced broodiness looks a lot like what happens when a rooster is involved.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My Cochin bantam raised a group of chicks and now tried to steal my other he's chicks now that she doesn't have any

 

[Chicalina]

awwww that is so sweet!

 

[aart]

That's a great pic!

 

[azygous]

Su-su the nanny hen with her best pal Lilith the granny hen. Lilith is eleven.

 

[azygous]

Su-su surprised me tonight by hauling herself off her perch in the coop and trundling back out to the chicks to sleep with them. They are all snuggled together in a cat bed I replaced the heating pad setup with a couple days ago since the chicks have weaned themselves off heat.

This is going to be an interesting week because I had planned on moving the chicks into the grow-out coop soon. Su-su has developed broody hormones in the past few days and is now partially broody. She may agree to move into the coop with the chicks, but I won't know until I try it.

This thread may turn out to be more interesting than just the nanny hen theme. Stay tuned.

 

[CatsandCrops]

Su-su the nanny hen with her best pal Lilith the granny hen. Lilith is eleven.View attachment 2297930

I like the one outside's face - "Why cant I go be with the babies?!"

 

[The Happster]

Su-su the nanny hen with her best pal Lilith the granny hen. Lilith is eleven.View attachment 2297930

That is the cutest cockerel I've seen all week.