Will a broody hen neglect chicks if you handle them.

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I was told by someone that if you touch a broody hens chick it will abandon it. I know it’s false with wild birds and they don’t have that good of sense of smell but I just wanted to make sure. I have a broody hen I got fertilized eggs for and she just hatched her first chick. She barley lets me touch it as is it but I plan on moving them once they all hatch and was going to let her raise them instead of using a brooder. I know it’s silly but I just wanted to check with the chicken people.

To directly answer your question, what someone told you is 100% not true. If you feel the need to move the new family and need to handle the chicks, your broody will not reject them out of sense of smell or for any other reason because you handled them.

BTW, @DobieLover is very experienced with broody hens and chicks, and was merely trying to help you manage your flock. Good luck and enjoy your new chicken family.