Our first Cochin chick has hatched in the incubator, so far only one out of the five eggs have hatched, not a great hatch rate again. Since there is only one so far I decided to try to have one of the Dorking hens adopt the chick, this is the first time that I am trying this. The timing is right since the Dorking had been sitting on duck eggs that never hatched (they were suppose to hatch last week), because I hoped to let her adopt the Cochin chicks I left the eggs under her so she would stay broody.
I introduced the chick to her this afternoon, so far she is not reacting to the chick in either a positive or negative way. I’m keeping an eye on her to make sure she doesn’t hurt the little one, but I have high hopes that she will accept it.
You can see the chick in the corner under the hens wing.
Have you had experience with hens adopting chicks? Let me know how it went. 🙂
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