Will my old hens take care of 2 chicks from the market??

[ChickensInTheFrontYard]

Hello, if I were to buy 2 baby chicks from the market would my older chickens take care of them? The main concern is that the chickens wouldn't take care of the chicks. so should i buy 2 chicks and put it in their coop or should I not buy 2 chicks?? HELP FAST!!!

 

[rebrascora]

If they are your only options, do not buy the chicks as the hens will almost certainly kill them, unless they are broody, which is unlikely at this time of year.

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x rebrascora No your older chickens will NOT take care of chicks you add to their flock. You'd have to raise them separately & introduce slowly (See but no touch)

 

[song of joy]

The older chickens will not take care of the chicks. They will probably kill them. So you would have to fill the roles of a mother hen, and provide the chicks with warmth, food, water, shelter, protection, etc.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

I would not just put the two chicks in with a flock of chickens. IF they they are not broody they will think that you just bought them a chicken dinner. However, if you have a broody hen, you might see if she will adopt the chicks. I had a broody Buff Orpingtom adopt one of my chicks that I got in a mail order from My Pet Chicken. I will attach the blog post. If you have a broody hen it may be helpful for you.

But if not, I would set up a brooder and brood them away from the big girls.

https://thekuntryklucker.blog/2017/05/24/sometimes-you-just-need-a-momma/

 

[ChickensInTheFrontYard]

If they are your only options, do not buy the chicks as the hens will almost certainly kill them, unless they are broody, which is unlikely at this time of year.

My chickens are broody

I would not just put the two chicks in with a flock of chickens. IF they they are not broody they will think that you just bought them a chicken dinner. However, if you have a broody hen, you might see if she will adopt the chicks. I had a broody Buff Orpingtom adopt one of my chicks that I got in a mail order from My Pet Chicken. I will attach the blog post. If you have a broody hen it may be helpful for you.

But if not, I would set up a brooder and brood them away from the big girls.

https://thekuntryklucker.blog/2017/05/24/sometimes-you-just-need-a-momma/

Thanks well I put them in and now my chick has a bald spot and it was bleeding i separated them though i put both chicks in a different cage they seem fine now but I really need to know will his feathers grow back??

 

[rebrascora]

How long have your hens been broody? Even if they are at the right stage of broodiness to accept chicks, many broody hens will not adopt chicks that are suddenly given to them. Have your hens raised chicks before? How old are the chicks? If they are more than a few days old it will not work even if the hen is properly broody.

I think you are lucky that the chick just has a bleeding bald spot. It might have been killed! All 7 people who voted, advised you not to put the chicks in with the hens. It seems you were determined to do this regardless of our advice.

Do you have a heat source for the chicks?

 

[ChickNanny13]

 

[lazy gardener]

What makes you think your chickens are broody? And how old are these chicks? What is the size of your coop? How many chickens. Do you have a heat source for these chicks?

You received good advice from Rebra and Song of Joy. Even if you did have a broody hen, you can't just dump chicks in the coop and expect them to live happily ever after. Pet management involves always doing what is best for the animals, instead of what you sometimes WANT to do.

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Wait about 4 months+ if you got them already or until they approach same size of the rest IMO