We had a broody hen sitting on fertile eggs only 2 of the 12 eggs hatched. We had some chicks from the feed store in our brooder at the same time. We decided to move Mama Hen and her two chicks into the brooder to see if she would accept the other chicks. She immediately accepted them and started to care for them. Now she has 10 chicks to look after. I think we will move them all out to the coup soon. I am just worried about what the other hens and the roosters will do to the chicks. We haven't gotten that far yet. Our broody hen is a Columbian Wyandotte which I think is known to be a broody breed. So far she has been a great mama. She talks to her chicks constantly and picks up food in her beak and drops it in front of of the them and tells them to eat it. At least I think that is what is going on.