Will my broody hen adopt my 3 week chicks?

Jeninoz

Songster
Jan 25, 2019
41
58
104
Perth, Australia
Gday everyone, I love this forum and love keeping chickens

I’m still new to keeping chickens I had a solo hen :). She followed me around everywhere so I got a rooster to keep her company. They get along fine but the rooster was scared, difficult to handle and didn’t go back to roost in their coop at night. So we locked the rooster in the coop for a few days to ‘home’ him.

Meanwhile I got 3 chicks I’ve been nurturing in a pet carrier. I took the pet carrier to my hen so they can get acquainted but the very next day my darling hen was biting my fingers and won’t budge out of the coop!

So from this forum I realised she’s gone broody .

I think it would be lovely if she might adopt the chicks. They are 3 weeks old.

So, I want to move the broody hen with her nesting box to a new coop so she can look after the chicks away from the rooster. But not sure she will let me move her? I’m scared to put chicks in same coop as rooster. And may be the hen and rooster would like to stay together.

Has anyone any suggestions?
 
I've had hens immediately take to older chicks. (One girl earned a forever place by spontaneously adopting a batch of chicks without ever going broody) but usually, the chicks don't go along with it, even if the hens do.

And at less than a week of broodiness, she probably hasn't even had the change in hormones that makes her want chicks. Right now, she's all 'bout them eggs.

Honestly, you'd probably have better luck getting your rooster to adopt them.
 
Can go either way try it take them at night put them under her but be prepared if they have been close all the time maybe your saving grace
 
Yes the chicks are probably to old but you say you wouldn’t put them in with your rooster. Personally my friends and I have all had roosters who loves taking care of the chicks while the mother hen was off eating or something. So next time I would say with younger chicks to not be afraid to keep the chicks with your rooster. If he is acting aggressive than remove the hen and chicks. I wouldn’t want me to be responsible for letting your babies get hurt. :oops: Good luck
 
Yes the chicks are probably to old but you say you wouldn’t put them in with your rooster. Personally my friends and I have all had roosters who loves taking care of the chicks while the mother hen was off eating or something. So next time I would say with younger chicks to not be afraid to keep the chicks with your rooster. If he is acting aggressive than remove the hen and chicks. I wouldn’t want me to be responsible for letting your babies get hurt. :oops: Good luck
Roosters are usually very non aggressive with chicks, they seem to assume all the chicks are their own. I have never had a rooster be mean with a chick.
 

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