l_ouise Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 Hello. I was just wondering... If i bought chicken that tends to go broody and i bought a random fertilised egg, would the broody chicken sit on the egg until it hatched and then would it care for the chick? Would the chick be ok being outside from hatching with a surrogate mother looking after it? Would raising the single chick be a method of introducing a single chicken into the brood without it being targetted? I'm asking because i would love to experience a growing chick and i am also limited on space so doubt i would ever be able to introduce two chickens together unless i lost two chickens. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catherinej Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 Hi, My broody pekin raised a single chick last year as only one egg hatched! We kept the broody indoors while she was sitting on the eggs and then put her ouside with the chick when the chick was about 2 days old. You must keep them in a separate pen from the rest of the hens though. We didn't introduce them to the rest of the flock until the chick was about 16 weeks old and able to stand up for itself. It was a fantastic experience and my broody was a fantastic mother. I want to do it again this year as she is broody again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 Hello. I was just wondering... If i bought chicken that tends to go broody and i bought a random fertilised egg, would the broody chicken sit on the egg until it hatched and then would it care for the chick? Only if it was actually broody when you put the egg under it. I wouldn't recommend just one egg, a clutch would be more likely to produce results. Would the chick be ok being outside from hatching with a surrogate mother looking after it? Yes...but they would have to be kept apart from the other hens, who would attack the chick and probably kill it if they got the chance. Would raising the single chick be a method of introducing a single chicken into the brood without it being targetted? See above I'm asking because i would love to experience a growing chick and i am also limited on space so doubt i would ever be able to introduce two chickens together unless i lost two chickens. Thanks Don't forget that there are no guarantees that you would hatch a female. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l_ouise Posted April 16, 2010 Author Share Posted April 16, 2010 Thanks for the responses, very helpful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
