Will my Bantam Cochin be a foster mother to a little bantam chick?

[Wokawidget]

Hi,

My Bantam Cochin has been broody for about 5 weeks now...always in the coup being grumpy even though I take all the other chickens eggs out within the hr of them being laid.

I have heard that if a chicken is broody and sitting on eggs you can switch an egg for a chick and the chicken becomes mum.
Does this only work if they have been sitting on eggs for weeks on end...or if they have been broody but with no eggs.
If I let her sit on an egg for a week then will that work?

I am looking at getting another bantam chicken in the next week so the Cochin has a friend.

There's no issue if she can't as we hand raised all our other critters.

cheers,

Woka

 

[WingingIt]

I've seen people on here put chicks under hens that have been sitting for weeks as well as for only a few days, so if she's sitting, I'd think it's likely to work. Let her keep a few eggs (mark them so you know if/when new ones show up and can take those out) and then put the chick(s) under there and see how she does with them. Good luck!