Can a hen raise (sit on, keep warm, etc) new hatchlings from a hatchery?

[Amazonlover]

Hi All,

I have ordered two new chicks from a local hatchery to be picked up in early April (a French black copper maran and a blue laced red Wyandotte). I’m wondering if one of my current hens can do the job of sitting on the day old chicks to keep them warm and see to it that they eat, drink, etc. The hen I’m thinking of is my buff Orpington because supposedly BOs can be very broody (though mine has not yet exhibited any tendencies, she’s only about 19/20 months old). Has anyone tried this? Can this be done? Or should I just stick with my normal brooding method of Brinsea heater?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Hi All,

I have ordered two new chicks from a local hatchery to be picked up in early April (a French black copper maran and a blue laced red Wyandotte). I’m wondering if one of my current hens can do the job of sitting on the day old chicks to keep them warm and see to it that they eat, drink, etc. The hen I’m thinking of is my buff Orpington because supposedly BOs can be very broody (though mine has not yet exhibited any tendencies, she’s only about 19/20 months old). Has anyone tried this? Can this be done? Or should I just stick with my normal brooding method of Brinson heater?

ONLY if the hen is currently broody

 

[Amazonlover]

Ok, thank you @JacinLarkwell

 

[DonyaQuick]

Not just currently broody, but also broody for a reasonable length of time like a couple weeks or so to be safe.

 

[Amazonlover]

Not just currently broody, but also broody for a reasonable length of time like a couple weeks or so to be safe.

Ah, wow. Ok thanks @DonyaQuick. Out of curiosity, what happens if the hen is not sufficiently broody (I will not be trying that, I promise, but can’t help but be curious)

 

[FrostRanger]

Ah, wow. Ok thanks @DonyaQuick. Out of curiosity, what happens if the hen is not sufficiently broody (I will not be trying that, I promise, but can’t help but be curious)

If she's not broody or broody enough she will reject the chicks and may injure or kill them

 

[Amazonlover]

If she's not broody or broody enough she will reject the chicks and may injure or kill them

Ugh, that would be awful. Thanks for the info.

 

[DonyaQuick]

Ah, wow. Ok thanks @DonyaQuick. Out of curiosity, what happens if the hen is not sufficiently broody (I will not be trying that, I promise, but can’t help but be curious)

Worst and most common case is aggression towards the chicks. Best case is a lucky adoption of them just very, very rare. In the one case where I tried it, the result was in the middle: almost immediate un-broodying (like comb standing back up and everything) with no mothering but also no aggression. I knew it was an extremely long shot when I tried it. Same hen went on the next year to brood some fake eggs for 3 weeks and then readily accepted several mail order chicks.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I had a hen who was broody, but too fat and would squish chicks. She was better just sitting on eggs.

 

[SourRoses]

You can encourage broodiness in broody natured hens by adding a good number of eggs to a safe nest (6+ works better for me).
If she doesn't sit on her own during the day, pick her up off the roost at night and set her on the nest in the pitch dark. I like to ease back and wait to be sure she's settled as you don't want her flopping about in the dark. Let her go to sleep on the eggs, and by morning they will be all warm & toasty under her and her hormones may turn her broody. You can try several nights in a row, but if 3 nights don't do it then she just doesn't want to.