Will a New Broody Accept Chicks?

[LaLoomis]

I have a hen that just went broody and I have eggs in the incubator that are set to hatch in a week. Will the broody feel like she has set long enough if I put new chicks under her after only a week of setting? I'm concerned that she might reject the chicks.

She is about 14 months old and this is her first time going broody. She's a silver penciled rock.

Thanks

 

[raimnel]

maybe stuff one of ur incubator eggs under her for a week????

I'm hoping this works cause I got silkie eggs in the 'bator and now my silkie decided she wanted to be broody after all. so I'm going to put 2-4 eggs from the ;bator under her. But mine have been in the 'bator for less than a week.

ETA, she's a cutie!

 

[LaLoomis]

Quote:
I'll give that a try, thanks.

 

[key west chick]

I have a hen that will take in a rock if it peeps.

 

[LaLoomis]

Quote:
Haha, hopefully mine will be as unconditionally loving.

 

[loopy12]

Personally I would wait until lockdown to put the eggs under her, that way you know she's committed because she's been broody for several days. Other than that it won't be a problem. I put some eggs that were on day 19 under my broody last year and they hatched two days later, she looked a little surprised initially but then just got on with it. 2 days after the chicks hatched she decided the other eggs were duds and kicked them out of the nest and got on with teaching the chicks to peck and preen...they don't seem to have a calendar for knowing their due date.

 

[LaLoomis]

Quote:
Waiting for lockdown sounds like a good bet.