Will a broody hen accept more chicks??

[ChickenLove6]

I have a hen who is broody and has already got 2 chicks who are 3weeks old. She is brilliant at being a surrogate mum but will she accept another chick that is 4days old? Thanks for any advice!

 

[farnorth]

I have a hen who is broody and has already got 2 chicks who are 3weeks old. She is brilliant at being a surrogate mum but will she accept another chick that is 4days old? Thanks for any advice!

I would say No emphatically, you could maybe add chicks over a 3 or 4 day period back when was broody and setting. Now she is not really "broody" now she is in "momzilla" mode. At this point any new little chick would be recognized as an outsider and she would drive it away ruthlessly.

 

[ChickenLove6]

I would say No emphatically, you could maybe add chicks over a 3 or 4 day period back when was broody and setting. Now she is not really "broody" now she is in "momzilla" mode. At this point any new little chick would be recognized as an outsider and she would drive it away ruthlessly.

Okay Thankyou! I don't want the chick to get lonely and thought it might of been happy with a mum. But I'd rather not risk it's little life. Thanks again!