Kalimani
Chirping
- Apr 15, 2015
- 40
- 5
- 52
Oh this is interesting, exactly what I was wondering about.What a sweet little family group! I must say, you lucked out. This is rare.
Summer before last, I had an older hen adopt three chicks. The chicks happened to be six weeks old and not in the need of a broody, but Su-su volunteered anyway. Here's the interesting part. She appeared to have been stimulated to go broody by the presence of the chicks in the run.
Su-su nurtured the three chicks until they were nearly four months old. It still has me marveling over it.
It will be interesting if your pullet develops broody hormones and continues to care for the chicks. You'll know it if you hear her communicating with the chicks in the typical broody "popping" vocals. Please do keep us posted!
I recently introduced 4 10 week old pullets to my flock (of 3!) - separated by a net fence for now. Suddenly the silkie cross has become broody, and I wondered whether the chicks might have stimulated that. I'm in 2 minds about getting her some fertile eggs (risk of cockerels that I do not want), so was wondering whether she might bond with the babes, who are growing fast. Could that satisfy her broodiness?
I'll put her with them tomorrow and see how all react (supervised). She is definitely making calling sounds for food as if she already has chicks, but I haven't noticed her showing any direct interest in the new girls.