Would a Broody look after additional chicks

[Tiger1979]

My broody hatched 4 eggs out of 12, I was hoping more would have hatched. But seeing that’s not the chase I was thinking of buying 2 additional chicks and add them to her family lol
But will she look after the additional chicks?

 

[Shadrach]

I've never tried this but others here have and have reported that the hen 'adopted' the chicks without problems.

 

[Redhead Rae]

It really depends, how old are the chicks? Your best bet is to add them before the broody moves her babies off the nest. I had a hatch go wrong (egg exploded) and mama lost all but 4 of her babies. I put 5 chicks that hatched the week before in with her and the little babies taught them that she was mama and she accepted them. But I gave her the chicks as her eggs were hatching. If she has already moved off the nest, the chances are slim that she will accept new babies. I tried adding new babies to another hen a couple days after she moved off the nest (because the mama I gave them to turned out to be a bad mommy) and she rejected them.

 

[Tiger1979]

It really depends, how old are the chicks? Your best bet is to add them before the broody moves her babies off the nest. I had a hatch go wrong (egg exploded) and mama lost all but 4 of her babies. I put 5 chicks that hatched the week before in with her and the little babies taught them that she was mama and she accepted them. But I gave her the chicks as her eggs were hatching. If she has already moved off the nest, the chances are slim that she will accept new babies. I tried adding new babies to another hen a couple days after she moved off the nest (because the mama I gave them to turned out to be a bad mommy) and she rejected them.

Thanks shes is still sitting on her chicks, they are only 3 days old so I guess if I want to do this I need to hurry and find some chicks.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Thanks shes is still sitting on her chicks, they are only 3 days old so I guess if I want to do this I need to hurry and find some chicks.

Has she taken them off the nest for food and water yet? 3 days is a long time to keep sitting. If she has taken them off and abandoned the eggs, I think it is probably too late.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Best of luck!!! Keep a close eye and keep us posted!

 

[Tiger1979]

Has she taken them off the nest for food and water yet? 3 days is a long time to keep sitting. If she has taken them off and abandoned the eggs, I think it is probably too late.

Has she taken them off the nest for food and water yet? 3 days is a long time to keep sitting. If she has taken them off and abandoned the eggs, I think it is probably too late.

Yes she has, I mean she sits on them at night. So maybe it’s to late to add chicks now?

 

[sourland]

I agree with @Redhead Rae. After 3 days she has bonded with and identified 'her' chicks. Any new chicks especially a different color or size will most likely be regarded as strangers and rejected.

 

[Tiger1979]

Thanks all, I think I better not do it then.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Thanks all, I think I better not do it then.

Yeah, if you want to try grafting chicks onto an existing brood, it is best done in the first 24-36 hours before the hen abandons the eggs.