Mother hen, her babies, and new hatchlings.

[Mamagondor]

Hello. I’ve been a chicken keeper for a few years now.
But I have a question as I haven’t done this part before.

I have a hen who went broody. She was sitting on a few eggs and I left her to it. A week or so ago I’m guessing some of my other hens left eggs in her box when she was out eating.

I didn’t check as I didn’t want to disturb her.
Well there were 4 more eggs she started sitting on that started.

I didn’t want to throw them out as it just rigged at my heart strings and I could see the tiny baby in there when I candles them.

Today her original eggs have started to hatch.
By the looks of it the other additional eggs look to be about a week or two later in gestation.

My queestion;
If I take these eggs and put them in an incubator can I put the newly hatched babies back in with mom and the older babies?
Or should I set up my brooding area. I was hoping to not have to set it all up and that she will be okay taking them but I obviously don’t want any loses or issues.

Is this possible?

 

[Ridgerunner]

After the chicks dry out and are moving well you can try. Some hens will accept new chicks so it is possible. But, often the hen bonds with her chicks and will not accept any more. When you try to give them to her observe closely. Instead of adopting them she may try to kill them, though from my experience she will more likely ignore them or try to run them off. It may work, she may take them, you may need to brood them yourself.

Next time with a broody, mark all the eggs you want her to hatch and start them all at the same time. Then check under her after the other hens have laid each day to remove any that don't belong. These staggered hatches are stressful and not always successful. I try hard to avoid them.

 

[BlueO]

Well it depends on the mom. She might take in the little chicks or she might try to kill them. When they hatch watch her with them and see if pecks them. If she does take them away immediately. Good luck!