How to get hen to accept chicks

Posted by Roxanne F on June 25, 2010 at 4:55pm

We had a broody hen that sat on 4 eggs. On Weds afternoon 2 hatched. Babies seemed fine but then yesterday one just suddenly died.

 

I don't want to raise just one chick because I am concerned it won't be accepted by the other hens & lonely so I bought 2 chicks from the store the same age.

 

What is the best way to get the hen to accept the 2 new chicks. I thought that it was possible for the 1st 3 - 4 days to give her new chicks. She is very good with her one chick.

 

Is slipping it under her tonight a good idea?

You need to be a member of AZ Herb Forum to add comments!

Join AZ Herb Forum

Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

  • Roxanne F June 27, 2010 at 10:35am
    Thanks for all of the good information.
  • Debbie Fishell June 26, 2010 at 9:41am
    When I get new chicks to add to my flock, I put them in a wire cage that's about 2 ft x 1 ft. The cage is inside the chicken pen and they can see each other. After a week or 2 the older hens seem to be used to the little ones and I release them. The chicks get picked on a little at first, establishing the pecking order, but they sort of 'know each other' and are used to seeing the chicks there so they accept them.
    • Roxanne F > Debbie Fishell June 26, 2010 at 3:36pm
      How old are the chicks when you do this?

      I did try putting them under her last night. And this morning she wouldn't let them near her or the chick so I have taken these two inside to brood. She is really attached to her chick so I don't want to take it away from her.
    • Debbie Fishell > Roxanne F June 26, 2010 at 4:12pm
      I get newly hatched chicks and keep them in a cage for the first week or 2. Mostly, this is because I don't want them to squeeze through the chain link fence. I've never had a problem with older chickens accepting them after they have been next to them for a little while.

      If the mother is not hurting the new chicks, why do you want to take them out? Is there enough room for them to get away from the hen? If she isn't trying to kill them, I would just leave them in there and let them get used to each other. They always peck at the new additions to let them know who's boss, but I think they rarely hurt them. That's my opinion.
    • Roxanne F > Debbie Fishell June 26, 2010 at 10:28pm
      She had two black chicks and then was left with one black chick. The ones I bought were one black and one RIR. She pecked a little bit at the black one but seem to take a real dislike to the RIR. I was afraid she might hurt that one. She wouldn't let them back into the nesting box and I was afraid she might keep them from eating or drinking.

      Yes she seems to really love her one baby. She is constantly with it and when we give her food she breaks it up and feeds it to the chick.

      I don't know who was at fault for the hatching failure. She was broody so we got her some fertile eggs and she sat on them one day and then the next she changed to an empty nest. So we put half of the eggs in one box and half in the other. They hatched 18 days after we first gave them to her. Don't even know for sure they were all fertile. We got them from some friends with a rooster so we could only assume the eggs were fertile.

      Not sure what happened to the one that died. They were all out of the nesting box and it seemed fine the second morning. And then when I went to look at it in the afternoon it was on its back and unable to get up or stand. I brought it in and tried to put it in a brooder but it died a few minutes later.
  • Rachel June 25, 2010 at 5:07pm
    It might work, but she also might kill them. Like you said, if you're going to try it at all you need to do it tonight after dark. I would guess you have about a 50/50 chance. It's a good idea to get up around 5am tomorrow and see how it's going and keep a close eye for at least all morning.
    • Roxanne F > Rachel June 25, 2010 at 5:09pm
      Thanks

      So would you even try? Is it better to keep them sperate and try to put them together later?
    • Bethany Lobocki > Roxanne F June 25, 2010 at 6:01pm
      I separate the chicks that my broody hens hatch...mainly because there are a few meat bird hens that are meaner than dirt. I don't trust them one bit.

      I guess it all depends on how much these chicks are worth to you...will you feel too bad if you find them dead? Is the experiment of seeing your hens mothering abilities worth a few dead chicks? You know what they say, hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
This reply was deleted.