![]() ![]() Most hens–even experienced mothers–will have no interest in raising chicks unless they are already broody. Make sure the hens are actually broody, having sat devotedly on eggs for at least a couple of weeks. ![]() So what are some secrets to successful adoption? Of course every experience will be different, but here’s what worked for us.ġ. The hens have been contented, nurturing mamas the chicks are healthy and strong. Over the next several days we watched as the hens capably cared for their chicks.įour weeks later, it appears that our foster adoption worked like a charm. So that night, we put the rest of the chicks in with the mothers. The next morning three proud mothers were doting on their chicks. We checked back and forth for a while and all seemed well–mamas clucking softly, babies snuggled underneath the hens. That night, when all was dark and quiet at the chicken coop, my hubby Jim and I put two chicks under each broody hen. All of the chicks looked healthy and active. I was ready to order a batch of hatchery chicks anyway, so I thought I’d try to see if any of the broody hens would adopt the chicks.Īfter a trip to the post office to fetch a box of day-old chicks, I got the little peep-peepers settled in an indoor brooder with heat lamp. A month later, none of their eggs had hatched. April was settled in her own nest, while Hedwig and Piggy brooded in tandem. This year, three of our hens went broody in the same week. Last year we used an incubator and had two hens hatch a few eggs. Two years ago we raised hatchery chicks in a brooder in the barn. But another option is to introduce tiny chicks to broody hens and let the mamas do what comes naturally. Most incubator and hatchery chicks are raised by people, in brooders outfitted with heat lamps to keep the chicks warm and dry. Modern-day alternatives include hatching eggs in incubators and purchasing chicks from hatcheries. The original method is to have hens sit on fertile eggs for about three weeks, hatch the eggs, and raise the chicks themselves. When it comes to hatching and raising baby chicks, there are a few different ways to go about it. ![]()
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