We have some lovely bantam Frizzle Cochins hens, 2 of which have been patiently brooding a clutch of eggs each for some time. Unfortunately, when they started, things weren't co-ordinated very well (by them or us!) and when the first hen started brooding, although she was originally sitting on one clutch, when the other hens laid next to her (we have only one nesting box), she switched to that clutch. It wasn't until several days of switching that the 2nd hen started brooding beside her and things got more consistent. Because of this we weren't sure if the eggs would hatch (or when they would hatch, I know...sloppy, sloppy, but we'll do better next time), but gave them the benefit of the doubt and let them brood anyways. 3 days ago 3 chicks hatched (hooray!), but it looks like we should remove the rest of the eggs now, as no more have hatched since. My question: if we slip some chicks (same breed, hatched in an incubator a week earlier by a friend) under these wonder-mothers, are they likely to adopt them as their own? How would we best go about attempting this?...at night?...should we watch carefully afterwards that the adoptees don't get injured?..when to remove the unhatched eggs? etc. etc.
P.S. don't worry about the 3 chicks that did hatch. They're snuggled warmly in with their moms, and we have starter feed and water available in the nesting box for their moms to show them (got that part right!).
P.P.S. Any advice on avoiding this brooding confusion next time? We figure that when #1 hen starts we should remove her and her box to a quiet, isolated place where she won't get disturbed. Same with #2, etc. Sounds right?

It's time to take one of the hens off her nest so she can properly take care of her already 3 day old chicks. If you have the facility to isolate her and the chicks from the rest of your flock, that would be best so that you can limit your starter feed to the hen and chicks alone. Candle the remaining eggs to see if you have any with embryos and, if so, leave those under the other broody hen or put in an incubator (or dispose of them, if not feasible to continue incubating). It is often possible to get a hen to adopt other chicks by placing them under her at night. The older the adoptee chicks are, though, the poorer your results will be. You are correct to watch closely the next day to see if they are rejected. Cochins make good mothers, so you might be in luck. For the future, I'd recommend that you have more than 1 lone nest box, so that you can remove the brooding hen, nest and clutch to a quiet separate area. As you have found out, it's not good to have the other hens laying eggs in with the broody hen's clutch once she has started brooding, because she can't, shouldn't, and won't stay on the nest indefinitely once the chicks begin to hatch. Good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks for the great advice. We took it. An update: Hen #1 (Martha) is now in a separate coop, happily mothering not only the 3 hatched frizzle chicks but also the 9 incubator-hatched frizzle chicks, plus our 6 Rhode Island and 5 Auracana chicks as well. She eagerly adopted them all, which makes for quite a comical sight when they're all trying to get under her! (I guess 3 chicks just didn't feel like a family!) We candled the remaining eggs from both clutches, which was quite a learning experience. We did O.K. after we got the hang of it...quite fascinating! Hen #2 (Dolores) has since hatched 3 more chicks, which we are leaving with her, because Martha's got her hands (wings?) full already. We're hoping Dolores's clutch will finish hatching by tomorrow so she can start mothering her brood as well. Will keep you posted.

Glad they are doing well! However, in the future you might want to keep the number of babies per hen to 12-15 MAX. As the chicks grow (and they'll grow fast) the little hen might not be big enough to keep them all warm. Just make sure Martha and brood has good shelter at night, free of drafts.

Thanks for the tip re: brood size. Seems that nature normally limits # of chicks by # eggs that mother can brood. You're right, our little hen cannot fit all those chicks under her, although she sure tries hard! I think this particular brood will be all right, though, because they are in a draft-free area of the coop, with a heat-lamp at a comfortable level above and lots of shavings and straw bedding beneath. I've noticed that Martha positions herself just to the side of the heat-lamp. The newest (and tiniest) frizzle chicks seem to make it under her, with a few Rhodies poking out. The rest snuggle next to her, just to the side of the heat-lamp during the day and almost directly under it at night, when it's cooler. They seem happy and healthy, and are eating and drinking well. Martha shows them their food, etc. Sound O.K.?
Question: is it O.K. to provide both layer pellets (for Martha) and chick starter (for babies)? We didn't figure the chicks would be able to eat the less-nutritious pellets, as they are too big for their little beaks, and we wanted Martha to have what she is accustomed to eating.

You're doing great by Martha and the babes with the heat lamp, etc. They'll be just fine with that arrangement. Interesting question about the pellets. Is Martha objecting to eating the starter? It certainly won't hurt her for the couple of months it'll take to raise her brood. But, providing the pellets, as well, should be OK for awhile. My only concern here is that when the chicks are a little older (and bigger) they'll try to eat the pellets and might get choked. Basically, this is just a judgement call. Do what you are most comfortable with.

I have a few broodies who need day old chicks
please could somebody tell me where i could get some
in the surrey/sussex area.