Chicks with a broody hen ...?

Question

I just realized today that my Buff Orpington hen must be broody. I was wondering whether it is possible to let her lay on dud eggs and then in about 20 days, I would buy day old chicks and stick them under her. Have any of you tried that?

Any other options to raise sexed chicks with a broody hen?

Answer 1

of coarse it will work..but DW bout the waiting thing....

actually...it depends on the hen..if she a lil bit dumb dumb she will accept the babies but if she is smart she will probably think they may be someone else chcicks and coincedently kill them...

Answer 2

That could work, it depends on the hen and if she gets disturbed and would leave the nest easily. Some hens go through a phase which they seem like their broody they will set for most of the days then leave and lose interest.

If she is truly broody the day old chicks would work! You gradually have to remove eggs and replace them with chicks. Just keep watch because she could realize the eggs are not real or the chicks aren't hers.

Answer 3

I wouldnt even wait the twenty days, Im pretty sure that you can stick fertile eggs or day old chicks under a hen that is broody and she will accept them. Ive certainly seen it work- but I dont know about the waiting thing.

Answer 4

She would realize that the chicks weren't really hers, but she probably wouldn't care. You could also just let her sit on the eggs until she gives up. Chicks will sometimes get picked on by older chickens, so if you want to raise them with the broody hen it's best to keep them all  separate from the other chickens until the chicks are almost full grown. Chicks will do fine without a mother, though, so you could raise them by themselves if you want to.

Answer 5

Well if you wanted once the hen has been setting for about 5 days you can put the day old chicks with her, we have always used broody hens for  surrogate mothers they do a great job! good luck!