I have a broody... [updated 08/19]

[Gone]

My little lavender silkie has gone broody, and it's about time. She's sitting on a dozen fresh and hopefully fertile eggs. This will be my first experience with raising chicks under a hen, should everything work out. I'm excited, it'd be really nice to add a few to my lil flock this year.

My black hen has joined her, and been on the nest since yesterday, so I'm hoping she's broody too. She's played at the idea a few times though, so it's wait and see.

Here's the lil darling (she's my favourite, along with my rooster, Henry).

and here's one of Henry:

Both are clickable. I'll be taking new pics soon, these are from last fall.

Here's hoping for some :silkie: :egghatch: :egghatch: :egghatch: this season.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Congrats, MC!

You will LOVE having the hen raise the chicks- much nicer than having them in the house!

All three of Queenpup's Silkies are broody, and one of my Black Australorps is too! I'm looking forward to having purebred chicks for once... although if the Buff Orpingtons lay eggs in there too I'll have some crosses.

We'll have to compare chick pics in a month!

 

[mystang89]

:clover: Here's wishing you luck! Hope you finally get some baby silkies.

 

[Marinea]

*fingers crossed for chickies soon*

Those are gorgeous silkies.

 

[mizemama]

I've got a broody Barred Rock. We should hopefully have chicks in a week or so. We've never hatched eggs before. Anything I need to do special or will mama hen take care of it all?

 

[Gone]

I'd appreciate any tips, too.

I got a shot of them this morning, the white one is only playing at being broody at this point, but that didn't stop her from cramming herself in there. :lol:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Lol- two of Queenpup's Silkies are sharing a nest. No more have hatched yet.

A friend of mine told me that the hens "talk to" the chicks when they turn the eggs, so that when they hatch, they know who their mommies are.

I don't have any tips, really, except that if a chick takes too long to hatch it may dry out and stick to its shell. Once they pip (make that initial hole) they rest for about 12 hours, and then they start working their way around the circumference of the egg, which takes a few hours.

Last year I brought one chick in and kept it in my shirt, hoping that would help with the humidity. It hatched successfully.

Backyard Chickens is a favorite forum of the breeder of our Silkies. I am sure they would be very helpful if you run into any problems.

 

[Marinea]

There are different things to do, of course, depending on whether the chicks will be raised with the flock from the get-go, or whether they will be raised up a bit in a brooder.

If they will be raised with the flock, just check the box as they start hatching. Ants can be a problem at that time. Mama will probably keep them with her in the box for a day or two, so don't worry. Keep on eye on them when she makes an appearance with them to make sure there is no aggression towards them. I would suggest having a brooder box handy just in case. Make sure the wee ones can get to food and water. Oh, for a few days, check the chicks for pasty butt. If you see it (you will know it if it's there), gently wash it off.

If the chicks are going to a brooder box, wait until they are totally dry, then move them from mama. Take them to the box and quickly dip their beaks into their water source. Once a week, raise their heat source a few inches until they are at room temperature. Then they can go out, assuming they have fully feathered.

 

[Gone]

Thanks.

I'm somewhat familiar with the brooder route, since I got these guys as day old chicks. I'd really prefer the hens raise them, here's to hoping there are no aggression issues (though I might just cage the troublemaker for awhile, at first, if there are).

 

[Miss M]

Congratulations! (Or would that be counting your chickens before they hatch?)

We'll have to compare chick pics in a month!

And... if you take videos, you can compare chick flicks, too! :tomato:

 

[Gone]

Oh the puns... :groooan:










opcorn:

 

[dayna]

How adorable, I love my silkies!

 

[Miss M]

Oh the puns... :groooan:

:lol:

Sorry, I was feeling very punny at the time... :twisted:

 

[Gone]

Well, I just ninja'ed into the chicken house :shuriken: and candled 5 of their eggs. All 5 are alive, showing good blood vessel networks.

I'm excited about this. I'll have to check the other eggs soon, they're sitting on 16, but I take this as a good sign.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

We'll have to compare chick pics in a month!

And... if you take videos, you can compare chick flicks, too! :tomato:

*Snort* :lol:

*Gasp! Choke! Cough-cough-cough!*

Miss M! :nono: In the future, when posting puns in the late p.m., please keep in mind that the victims of your humor may be enjoying their cup of morning joe when they read your post!

 

[Gone]

Peepers!

Two have hatched so far, both black and fuzzy. No pics yet, trying to keep three protective broodies off them for more than a second is proving difficult. :lol:

I'll update with pics as things progress, but hey, it's a start!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Yay! Congrats, MC!

The Silkies seem to be very good mothers, and the roos are sweet fathers as well!

They should be out and about before long- lots of pic opportunities will soon be coming your way.

 

[Gone]

Thanks!

I have six now, which is half of the first set of eggs. The second set is due tonight or tomorrow, I think. We'll see what happens.

I've isolated the chicks with the lavender hen in a reinforced dog crate, and she's as happy as a clam. The three other broody hens are on the remaining eggs.

It was just madness trying to get the hens out of the nest so I could even see how many chicks there were. With four broodies packed into one nestbox, I was worried about trampling, hence the separation.

I took a quick snap of the chicks as I was moving them. More pics will follow, but it was just too hectic this morning, and I just wanted to get them settled ASAP.

One or two seem to be having a bit of trouble standing. They kind of sit on their butts with their legs sticking out straight. I don't know if it's just because they're newly hatched, or if they have a defect. You can see the position I mean in the one on the right in the shot above. Any input from people who have seen this behaviour would be appreciated.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

They sure are cute!

I emailed my friend who gave Queenpup her Silkies. Hopefully she will know if that is something they can grow out of. :clover:

 

[Miss M]

They're adorable!! So glad they're hatching out just fine! It'll be so much fun watching them tag along with Mom and grow up!