Will chick with splints be accepted by the broody?

[K0k0shka]

My broody nest-hopped a bunch of times despite me fencing her off, including during lockdown, so her hatch is all over the place. Chicks hatching over multiple days, some with issues. I took some of her eggs for lockdown, to hatch more safely in the incubator, and have been slipping the hatched chicks under her after they fluff up. She’s taking them without issue, and is very nurturing and attentive.

Now, one of the chicks that hatched in the incubator, has curled toes - one on each foot. I made splints for them with medical tape. I need to keep the boots on for 2-3 days, and am afraid the chick’s chances of being accepted might go down the older it gets. But I also worry that if I give it to the hen now, she might peck at the tape or reject the chick because of it. Has anybody given a broody a chick with boots? Is this a bad idea? Should I wait until the boots come off, and hope for the best? The chick would be the same age as the chicks with the hen (give or take a day or so).

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Let the boots come off, then introduce the chick. Momma can't count, and one more won't matter.

I do think the chick would not keep up well with the boots, and they would be a target for the others, including momma to peck.

Make sure chick grafts well with momma when you introduce. Momma will be fine, but the chick will be uncertain what to do as it has been artificially brooded.

But I think once the boots come off, the chick will likely be fine.

LofMc

 

[K0k0shka]

Let the boots come off, then introduce the chick. Momma can't count, and one more won't matter.

I do think the chick would not keep up well with the boots, and they would be a target for the others, including momma to peck.

Make sure chick grafts well with momma when you introduce. Momma will be fine, but the chick will be uncertain what to do as it has been artificially brooded.

But I think once the boots come off, the chick will likely be fine.

LofMc

Thanks for the input! I just got a better idea. This chick is currently still in the incubator with another chick that was an assisted hatch (but is making quick progress). The two of them are one day younger than the ones with the broody, and still weaker than them, so I'm afraid they won't fit in and keep up even after this one's boots come off and I try to slip them under the broody. However, I have a backup broody. She is a proven reliable mother who hatched and raised chicks for me last year, and has been wanting babies since March... I just set her up in a wire crate with fake eggs, food and water. So when this chick's boots come off, and the assisted one gains some more strength, I'll try slipping the two of them under the backup broody. This is her second time going broody this spring, and this one has lasted about 3 weeks or so, with me half-heartedly trying to break her at the beginning, then I let her go thinking I might need her as a backup. She's been sitting in the box next to the chicks since they hatched (the broody with the chicks is fenced off), rubbernecking at them with jealousy and hope, so now she'll finally get her wish. I put her crate across from broody #1's nest, so she can see and hear and get inspired. Let's hope this works!

 

[K0k0shka]

Update: I kept the chick inside for 2 days post hatch, with the boots on, and with its buddy, and taught the two of them to eat and drink. Last night I took the boots off and its toes were nice and straight, wohoo! I slipped the two chicks under the backup broody last night, and she accepted them. This morning everybody is looking happy and content. A nice happy ending to the story!

Here they are yesterday, getting strong and ready to go outside:

After the boots came off: "I have TOES?!?!?"

And the happy new family:

 

[K0k0shka]

One of the toes has folded in again I'm not sure what to do now. This is becoming a different problem now than what this thread was originally asking, so I created a separate thread - here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/can-a-chick-live-with-a-bent-toe.1529487/

 

[Animal Export]

I think it will accept !