[stujem]

Hi all - My very young chicken/bantem? went broody so I left her sit on the eggs, she was sitting on 11 in total, which I thought was far to many for her as she is only small, so I took 5 large eggs from her and put them in an incubator. Well 7 days ago one hatched with me and then another one hatched 2 days later, the other eggs did not make it. The chicken also hatched 4 chicks in total. What I wanted to know will it be possible to put my 2 chicks with her chicks? Any advice would be most grateful as I like the chicks in the house but thought having a hen to look after them would be better in the long term.

[darkbrowneggs]

As long as they are less than a week or so old she should take them.  Just put them under her after dark and make sure they are tucked in, and all should be well, but keep an eye on them next day to see she has accepted them.

[stujem]

Thanks fo the reply, what is the worst that can happen? the older chick is a black firey one which kepted pecking my other chick eyes until I spit them up - I kept the younger chick in a basket so that they both can see each other, now they get on like a house on fire!

[GrannieAnnie]

The worst that can happen is that she could kill them, but hopefully she will take to them like her others!

[stujem]

I was hoping you were'nt going to say that, I can't take the risk what about if me and my wife each hold one in our hands to see what she does?  ... This is the worst part of having chicks I think

[joyfull]

no dont do that because the chances are that she will peck at at them to kill them. The ideal time is when the eggs were hatching and swapping the dud eggs with the other chicks but sadly that it is now too late for that. If she is a good broody mum then I would try doing what brown eggs suggested - I have done this on several occasions with great success.

[joyfull]

I have also removed your duplicate post.

[francais]

I tried this and it failed. The added two were chased all around by the mother, who was pecking so hard on their heads! I had to take them straight back out again.

We raised them indoors then when the mothers chicks were old enough we put the mother back with the flock and introduced the two into her brood. They accepted them with just a small amount of pecking order going on. After about two / three weeks we then introduced the whole lot into the main flock without difficulty.

[darkbrowneggs]

Did you put them in after dark or during the day?

[francais]

I tried both. One night me and hubby slipped them in with her and waited outside. There was big scuffeling noises coming from inside, so we opened up the door to the main run and mum just short of booted one through it!

We took them back in thinking that perhaphs we had suprised her, so we tried again the next day while she was out in the pen .... this went far worse... she chased them round pecking at their heads. hubby had to rescue them again.

[darkbrowneggs]

I suppose each hen is an individual, but I find after dark all my chucks are very placid, and by putting chicks under the hen once everyone is safely tucked up and asleep normally by morning its fine - but it has to be pitch dark, and of course the chicks must be a similar age and size, and less than a week old or so old.

The other thing you could try (if desperate and you know you have a difficult bird) is to take all the chicks out, and very lightly spray those and the introducees with warm water containing a drop or two of peppermint oil, as hens have a very accute sense of smell.