will my hen accept other chicks if i put them in with her

[blueseal]

i have a hen that hatched out 3 chicks and 1 survived. if i wanted to buy week old chicks would she accept them . her only chick is almost 2 weeks old. feedback thanks.

 

[Kittymomma]

She's more likely to try to kill them. I don't think it would be worth the risk, sorry.

 

[DillardHome]

I've heard the same thing as KITTYMOMMA's post. Not a good idea.

 

[A1 Steak Sauce]

Not just no but heck no!!! She'll probably kill them.

 

[wegotchickens]

Depends on the hen. I have one that will take EVERY chick I give her, even if she's already mothered some for days.

In fact, I take away the older more fledged chicks and give her 'newborns' on a regular basis once she's hatched out a clutch of eggs. She has no problem with that at all.

 

[crazyhen]

I just had a" pickle from that barrel". Sigh!! I had the sweetest broody who hatched three chicks. she was good to them. At three days old I slipped her four chicks. For two days all went well. On the third day I went in to find three of the new chicks dead and the hen chasing her own trying to kill them too. I took them all out and have them in a brooder. I must have sent her over the edge by giving her more than she wanted. She had been so good up until then. Don't try it. Its just not worth the problems. Gloria Jean

 

[A1 Steak Sauce]

Quote:
That's really cool, I've never had that kind of luck lol.

 

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
That's really cool, I've never had that kind of luck lol.

Yeah, ironically, she killed the first 3 chicks she ever hatched. I almost didn't let her set any more. But she did awesome the next time and has been very intent on being broody or raising babies every since.
She makes it clear when she's 'over' motherhood by going back to roosting at night. That wasn't until she'd tended rotations of chicks for over 3 months.

Not everyone is so lucky, I know. And just because a broody is a bad mom the first time, give her a second chance.

I have to say, though, I do most of my chick-switching after dark or very early in the morning.