Will this work??? Help pls

[Arwen.26]

Thanks for all the help...I'll keep you updated. A question though I think she would be happier with them alone....should I move her to the other coop first before trying with the chick's. Or should I see if there is any interest in the chick's first before I even bother with the private suite? .lol

[Jaye]

If you don't have the ability to fence off an area in the main coop so that everyone can see one another without direct access, then if it were me I would go with a private suite, just to be safe. That would be less stress for new mama if she doesn't have to fend off unwanted attention from others on top of having new chick raising responsibilities. You can re-introduce them (supervised), when they are a little older.

[Ontario Chick]

Agree with Jaye, private suite, less chance of mishap.
If she adopts them, she will look after them for approximately 6-8 weeks, and it will give them chance to develop without being picked on.
Arwen, I think you have a Grate Dane Crate, that might just work perfectly for introductions, if the hen would be more or less confined , but the chicks would have a chance to get out if things got dodgy.

[Arwen.26]

Ok if I get what you saying correctly, I should move my hen..maybe give her the night to get comfy in her new home, then bring the chick's in for an introduction tomorrow afternoon?

[Arwen.26]

I do have a great dane cage but, LOL one problem OC, ....the little fluffers can fit through the holes...

[thegawd]

you want the chicks to be able to get out of the cage just incase things go sour... good luck!!! keep us posted as im quite interested to know the outcome.

[Arwen.26]

Ahh ya I could see how that would work. But I was thinking of having the chick's in something when I introduced them..just to see the reaction of the hen...then proceed with letting them have complete contact if things look good, if she wants nothing to do with them or worse. ..I'll just abandon the idea. But if things look good that may work for a bit to give the chick's an out for the first few days...thanks!
Oh wow I read OC post but somehow missed that part..."smack head" lol

[Lori]

QR_BBPOST I hope it works out, let us know how things go.
BTW, if that doesn't work out you can always give her some eggs to sit on :)

I don't mean to hijack this post, I'm following it along here and I have a question about what you said Ontario Chick. How long after she starts sitting can you give a broody hen fertile eggs? If I were to put fertile eggs under a hen who has been broody for a couple weeks....would she continue to sit on them until they hatch, or would she quit 3 weeks after she started sitting?

[Killerbunny]

I have had hens keep sitting and hatch turkey eggs for me - 28 days. Add 2 or 3 to make sure she's broody. The stimulus for them to stop sitting is the chicks beginning to hatch and chat to her.

[Jaye]

I would put those eggs under her soon though, if you're going to, since she's been broody for a couple of weeks already, because when hens are broody, they will lose condition (just sitting and only eating, drinking and ing once a day is hard on their system).