Will mama hen take in a newly hatched chick along with hers?

[ashleynicole]

Ok so my bantam silver laced Cochin went broody and was laying on 8 eggs hers and some from my other hens. 4 of them hatched and after those hatched she got off the nest with her babies and left the other 4 eggs in the nest I wondered if she would go back but by the end of the day she never did so I decided to turn my incubator on and put them in there. That was 2 days ago and I just had another egg hatch today. I'm wondering if I can introduce this chick to her tomorrow and if she will take care of it along with the other ones she already has or if I should just keep this one in a brooder by its self?

 

[rebrascora]

Definitely worth trying but I would put it under her tonight so that it has all night to bond. If you put it in the brooder and none of the other eggs hatch, it will be a lone chick which is never a good thing or you will need to steal a chick or two from her to put in the brooder with it and they won't take kindly to that.
I would be surprised if she doesn't accept it and you should know pretty quickly one way or the other. Make sure you put it under her with the back of your hand protecting it in case she pecks at you and hits the chick. Broodies can be a bit feisty sometimes.

 

[ashleynicole]

Ok thank you for the input.....I was thinking I should let it dry first but eh I guess mama hen will take care of that.

 

[ashleynicole]

Update....mama took in the chick right away!!

 

[rebrascora]

That's great news. Did any of the other eggs hatch?

 

[ashleynicole]

I haven't had anymore hatch I'm thinking the others may not.

 

[rebrascora]

Probably just as well as there would be too much age difference to be adding any more to your broody's little bunch now.