Will a broody bantam adopt full size breed chicks?

[rusticpumpkins]

I have about 4 bantam hens that are broody. None of my bantams I have paired up are laying yet, however. I am wanting to get some good egg layers that are full size breeds and I'm wondering if I go get chicks from TSC would the banis adopt them and brood them for me?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

There is no more risk of rejection of large fowl chicks than there would be of bantam chicks -- some broodies are more accepting of "fosters" than others. I would give it a shot - just be prepared with a "plan b" (for brooder, lol) should your broody hens not cooperate with your offering of ready made families, with four of them, though, chances are you'll find success in at least a couple of them.

 

[chickens really]

I'm confused....if not laying yet? How can they be Broody?
It's always easier to slip chicks under a Broody who is hatching eggs....During a two day window of her chicks hatching she would accept any chicks.....I have never tried a broody that never was hatching at the same time......

Cheers!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I'm confused....if not laying yet? How can they be Broody?
It's always easier to slip chicks under a Broody who is hatching eggs....During a two day window of her chicks hatching she would accept any chicks.....I have never tried a broody that never was hatching at the same time......

Cheers!

I read it as there are four broody hens *but* the birds that are paired up for egg production (different birds than the four broodies) aren't laying yet so there are no eggs to give the broodies for incubation.

 

[chickens really]

I'm confused....if not laying yet? How can they be Broody?

It's always easier to slip chicks under a Broody who is hatching eggs....During a two day window of her chicks hatching she would accept any chicks.....I have never tried a broody that never was hatching at the same time......


Cheers!

I read it as there are four broody hens *but* the birds that are paired up for egg production (different birds than the four broodies) aren't laying yet so there are no eggs to give the broodies for incubation.

Oh......lol.....now I get it!.....

Cheers!

 

[rusticpumpkins]

I'm confused....if not laying yet? How can they be Broody?
It's always easier to slip chicks under a Broody who is hatching eggs....During a two day window of her chicks hatching she would accept any chicks.....I have never tried a broody that never was hatching at the same time......

Cheers!

The hens who are broody are crosses and I'm not want to breed my crosses this year, my paired off bantams are pure breeds and arent the broody ones! Thanks! I will see when my local feed stores get chicks in and see when her eggs would hatch.

 

[rusticpumpkins]

There is no more risk of rejection of large fowl chicks than there would be of bantam chicks -- some broodies are more accepting of "fosters" than others.   I would give it a shot - just be prepared with a "plan b" (for brooder, lol) should your broody hens not cooperate with your offering of ready made families, with four of them, though, chances are you'll find success in at least a couple of them.

I hope so! I will set up my usual brooder just in case. I've never really done fosters like this before with broodys. Last year I did have a hen hatch three chicks and then reject them. I was able to give those to another hen who had chicks about a week older.