Will a broody hen raise chicks?

[CityChickens2011]

We had a broody hen (had been sitting for about a month). So we got about 8 fertilised eggs to put under her. She hatched them out and is very protective of them. The eggs came from a friend and to see how protective she would be we let the other 4 hens get close to her and the babies. Before, she had been down low on the "pecking order" and we were afraid that it would be the same. No way was she gonna stand for it. She fought for the chicks if the others got to close to them. So we are not too worried now. Hope this helps.

 

[Judy]

It's not that bad!

If you put the chicks under her and she seems to accept them, adjust her position for them, leave them under her, all is probably well. When I've done it, I've watched for a minute or two, certainly not all night. In the morning you will be able to tell easily enough if things are OK, they'll be under her, climbing on her, pecking the ground near her, etc. Once a mama accepts the chicks as hers, she will ordinarily keep them close by during the day and cover them at night for a few weeks. Then they will begin to wander further and further, and she may peck at them to tell them to get lost, but not viciously. Then she'll just go back on the perch and they'll likely hang together, maybe on the roost, maybe in a corner or a nest box til they're ready to roost.

I had one broody who did not accept chicks I'd bought. I foolishly tried to give them to her during the day. They seemed fine at first, but an hour later the chicks were in a far corner of the coop and she was on her broody nest. She hadn't harmed them, but obviously she'd kicked them out. If I'd been wise enough to wait for nightfall, I'd probably have had better luck.

eta I've always had my mamas raise the chicks in with the flock -- I don't want to have to integrate them later or finish letting them grow up separately, after she is through being a mama. The roos if anything have been protective of chicks, and the mama has quickly run off any hen who comes too close.

 

[SqueakyRoseShalom]

Ok thank you! I can breath now

. So I will def put them in at night and watch for a few minutes and then check first thing in the morning. My neighbor will be hatching the eggs in about one week, so I will keep you posted! Thanks again! i sure love this forum!

 

[Judy]

Best of luck. Watching a mama with chicks is such a great pleasure to me. And yes, do let us know. Of course we expect pics!

 

[Ogress]

I had a white EE that went broody in early February, and nothing could break her of her broodiness. I tried 3X to put chicks under her. She rejected them each time (she got very agitated and pecked at them). I moved the chicks to brooders each time. I tried so many times because I thought maybe it was the color or breed of the chick.

In May, someone gave me 4 Black Copper Marans eggs, and on June 1 (20 days), they all hatched. She is The Best mamma bird. I heard that broody raised chicks are flighty, but this is not the case. She always allowed my kids and I to pick up her chicks, she just would not let us get out of her sight. Her first 2 months as a broody hen, she was mean! She was losing weight, so I hand fed her daily, and held a water bottle for her to drink. I think she really grew to trust people and has raised her chicks that way. Unfortunately, of the 4 chicks, only one was a pullet. I just gave away her 3 boys. She hardly seemed to notice, but now mom and daughter are inseperable. They seem to be happy to be rid of the boys who were often fighting with one another, kind of like my kids!

Good luck!

edited for typos

 

[JanaBanana1]

My broody hen sat on eggs for over a month... I then got her 4 fertile eggs from a friend and placed those under her... 2 hatched, 2 didn't make it. She is THE BEST mama hen to those baby chicks.

She ended up setting broody for about 45 days or so! Boy was she ever happy to finally have something in return for all her hard work

 

[Texasmja]

I am getting some chicks in the mail in the morning and am going to try and put them under my broody hen who has been sitting on infertile eggs for over a month. I hope she accepts them. She is a big hen, so how many chicks do you think I can put under her? Also do you think the chicks will be able to get out of her nest box (front opening about 3 inches high on the bottom) and get food and water. I am going to make sure they are eating and drinking after they arrive and then put them under her at night.

 

[HEChicken]

I am getting some chicks in the mail in the morning and am going to try and put them under my broody hen who has been sitting on infertile eggs for over a month. I hope she accepts them. She is a big hen, so how many chicks do you think I can put under her? Also do you think the chicks will be able to get out of her nest box (front opening about 3 inches high on the bottom) and get food and water. I am going to make sure they are eating and drinking after they arrive and then put them under her at night.

Putting them under her at night is the best plan. I had a dozen eggs under my hen and she was able to cover them all comfortably. If they had all hatched, I guess that would have meant 12 chicks were a good fit too. How many chicks are you getting?

If you are concerned they won't be able to get in and out, perhaps you can put something there for them to use as a stair? When my broody's chicks first hatched, they couldn't get in and out of the broody coop. I put a brick on either side of the door opening and they used that as a stair to jump in and out.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

My broody hen is raising chicks. Had 6 eggs under her and only 2 hatched last week. ( took them away yesterday...3 were duds and one stopped developing in the early stages) I bought 2 chicks at the feed store and gave them to her. She wasn't sure at first but warmed up to them and they are one happy family.

Gretchen and her 1st two chicks


the one in the bowl and the brown one back left are the new chicks from the feed store.

 

[Texasmja]

Well I put 12 (5 day old pullets) under her last night, she started purring to them immediately. I went and checked them first thing this morning and they are all bonded to each other and happy.