Can i put chicks i am hatching with the mother my latest hatch?

Question

Thanks for answering that for me, like i said in my last question, my chicks are 8 days old, i have another batch of 9 eggs hatching 3rd Sept and after, can i put these with the same mom as hatched the other 3, if i take the 3 away, will she be ok with the new hatchlings, she is a very good mom, could i put the new ones with her and 3 babies she has now.

Answer 1

you can try, it mostly depends on the hens temperament but deffinetly not if the 2 groups of chicks are significantly different in size, i think the'll be ok but just try

Answer 2

Mostly that depends on your bird.  I've got some great foster moms in my flock (I even have some dominant hens who steal chicks from other hens to raise themselves!).  But I also have some who will not accept other chicks, or even try to pick on chicks from a separate brood.  It's all part of the flock hierarchy.

I would be more concerned that newly hatched chicks are substantially smaller than ones at 4 weeks, and would most likely get trampled or pushed out of the way at the feeder.  Don't put new hatchlings with older chicks!  

I would leave the chicks with the broody hen and let her raise them.  Setting up a chick pen for the others that you are hatching is very simple and inexpensive.  Use a large rubbermaid tote and attach a brood lamp (250 watt red bulb) to the side.  I bed mine on either pine shavings or rolled oats.  Especially with fall weather getting closer, it is easier to keep them from getting chilled and their survival rate will be higher if kept in a controlled brood pen.

Also, even though I have some very diligent and devoted brooders that will brood repeatedly for me without a break, I often take their chicks away and hand raise them.  You get friendly birds when hand raising, but brooding also takes alot out of your hens.  They don't eat as much as they should when brooding, and often lose alot of their body weight in the process.  They need a break to put healthy weight back on, especially this time of year!  Giving her new chicks will force her to expend more energy and forego foraging for herself.  Let her rest and put some winter weight back on.