Need help introducing new baby chicks to my hens please?

[Vegan Mountain Mama]

I’m trying to get my 2 hens to adopt my two new baby chicks. The hens both like to sit on their eggs and sometimes I see them tucking an egg under their tummies. I thought this meant they are broody (they’re both 1 year old americuanas) so I got them babies.
I made a nest for them in a bin in my spare bedroom with lots of fluffy hay and a few of their eggs, and then I made it dark in there and left them alone to fall asleep.

After about an hour I went in to check and see if they were sitting on the eggs and sleepy. Poppy was on the eggs and sleeping (kind of) and Clover was perched on the edge of the bin. So I brought in one chick and snuck her under Poppy and then took away an egg. It was still very dark all the while, with just the light from my phone screen.

At first poppy stood up and was sort of looking at the chick and making a cute, quiet cooing sound, but she didn’t lay on the chick or try to shelter it. She just watched and listened for a long time. Then after I repositioned the chick Poppy got up and walked away
Did I do something wrong? Should I try again?
I feel bad because one of the chicks is a Japanese bantam and she’s sooo so little and very insecure and she constantly wants to be snuggled under a cover (she even tries to climb under the belly of the other chick) she really needs a chicken mommy. I feel sad...like I overestimated how broody they were. Honestly my cat has been sweeter towards the chicks than my hens have

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are you sure your hens were broody? A broody doesn't just sit on eggs sometimes, they basically don't want to leave the nest at all, they'll get upset and run back to it if moved, they'll puff up and growl when disturbed, and may rip out their chest feathers. If that sounds like it, how long have they been sitting? Hens are more likely to accept chicks after several weeks, when the eggs they've been brooding would've been ready to hatch.

I hope you have a brooder going as a backup. Even if your hens are broody they still may not accept having chicks given to them so this probably means you'll be raising the chicks.

 

[Vegan Mountain Mama]

Are you sure your hens were broody? A broody doesn't just sit on eggs sometimes, they basically don't want to leave the nest at all, they'll get upset and run back to it if moved, they'll puff up and growl when disturbed, and may rip out their chest feathers. If that sounds like it, how long have they been sitting? Hens are more likely to accept chicks after several weeks, when the eggs they've been brooding would've been ready to hatch.

I hope you have a brooder going as a backup. Even if your hens are broody they still may not accept having chicks given to them so this probably means you'll be raising the chicks.

:/ yea I guess I was wrong. Sucks. I don’t know why they care about their eggs at all if they’re not interested in being mothers, just doesn’t make sense.
But nevertheless I have everything necessary to raise healthy happy chicks; a safe warm place with a heat lamp and chick starter food. I raised the two hens I’m talking about since they were a day old, with no other hens involved. So these ones will be fine and healthy and loved. I’m just disappointed is all.

That’s crazy though! How does a broody hen eat and get water if they refuse to leave the nest for weeks? Do you just bring it to them?

 

[rosemarythyme]

They'll get up to eat, drink and poop, a few times a day, but then it's back to the nest. Not surprisingly they lose weight while broody since they're not eating as they normally would. I'm breaking a broody right now and if the timing had been a little different I would've tried giving her a few chicks as well, but since the timing won't work I guess I'll be raising the next batch of chicks.

Very glad to hear you had a set up ready to go, just in case. I'm sure your new chicks will do fine since you've had experience with chicks already.

 

[Vegan Mountain Mama]

They'll get up to eat, drink and poop, a few times a day, but then it's back to the nest. Not surprisingly they lose weight while broody since they're not eating as they normally would. I'm breaking a broody right now and if the timing had been a little different I would've tried giving her a few chicks as well, but since the timing won't work I guess I'll be raising the next batch of chicks.

Very glad to hear you had a set up ready to go, just in case. I'm sure your new chicks will do fine since you've had experience with chicks already.

Awe what good mommies! I think my girls just aren’t ready to be moms, they seemed confused and agitated (I’d act the same if someone dumped a human baby on me right now and said it was mine LOL).
But thanks for the info it really helped.