Will mama chicken take the new chicks

[Bantymama]

My hen hatched out a chick a week ago and left the eggs. I put the eggs in the hatcher. 1 hatched last wed and i put the chick under her and she took it. The other 2 hatched one last night and one this morning, i was wondering if i put them under tonight when it gets dark will she take them.

 

[tiffanyh]

I stuck a few more under my momma hen two days after the first ones. She did okay. but she in an exceptional momma who I have done this with before so I felt comfortable about it. But hens can not smell or count-from what I gather! So if they are close enough in size it may work....

 

[marie_martin]

I added 3 chicks to my silkie after she had hatched 3 herself. It was like 3 days later. And she took them fine. As a matter of fact, she tried to take my other silkies babies when they were first introduced into the run with everyone. They can't count so they just take all the babies that another mama wont claim I guess. It may not work all the time, but I guess it is common. I would put them under her at night and then check on her in the a.m. to see if she is keeping them warm. Put her and the chicks in a brooder if you are concerned they will get cold.

Hope it works.

Marie

 

[Bantymama]

Well so far so good. We put them under her last night and all was well this morning. I check on them every half hour. She is showing them where the feed and water is so thats a good sign.