Salutations! and a question...

I've been a member for a while but reluctant to post as my questions always seemed to have answers somewhere, and I'm too much of a newbie to answer anything myself. My small flock, and first chickens, started with 6 silkies I got from Cackle Hatchery last April at a day old. As they grew, they all became beautiful members of our family, with 3 roosters and 3 hens... There were two white ones, two black ones, a buff, and a blue. The two white ones were a pair that never left each others side, one hen and one rooster, and when the others started bulling them, we reluctantly gave them to a friend with super friendly hens and no roosters. Then, about a month ago, a predator got my buff rooster leaving me with the two black hens, and the blue rooster. Once warmer weather hits, we plan on adding to the numbers, as we've also recently purchased a new house on 10 acres and want to build them a very nice coop and not have to worry about potentially bothering the neighbors with Jareth's crowing that he does anytime the dogs start to bark, or the wind blows, or the sun shines...

This past week, I've noticed that one of the hens has begun to sit on the eggs and be protective of them, and from all I've read I'm assuming she's gone broody. I think it's the most precious thing ever, and I'm all for letting her hatch her eggs but unfortunately it's winter... So, my question is, assuming the eggs hatch, should I put the chicks in the brooder that I used when I got the silkies to keep them warm and safe? If the answer is yes, should I put momma hen in with them to teach them mannerisms or leave her out in the chicken run/coop area with the other hen and rooster?

Thanks in advance for any advice! Happy holidays everyone!! (On an unrelated and side note, I'm also currently expecting two litters of guinea pigs and am a first time owner of those, too...the breeder withheld the information that they had been with males...)

Hi

Glad you could join us here! I've really enjoyed your intro and I'm so glad you have started posting Everyone here to help so don't be scared to ask any questions at all.
Sorry to hear that you had to give a pair away and your predator attack

As for your broody I would say as long as she has a draft free and well ventilated coop to raise the chicks in she will do just fine. Taking the chicks away from her could cause her much stress and why do all the work yourself when she is there to do it all for you. Silkies are notoriously broody and fantastic mothers so I'm sure she will do just fine.

I'm sure you will find this section of the learning Center most helpful ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-and-raising-chicks
Lots of great articles there on broody hens and them raising chicks.

Wishing you the very best of luck for the future with your chickens and of course the guinea pigs, it is sure going to be a busy time for you!

Enjoy BYC and all the chicken chat

Hi and I am glad you joined us! But I am very sorry about your Silkie's! Yes, Silkie's love to brood. I have a Buff Silkie hen and I can tell you they love to go broody! Since it is winter, I would personally be hesitant.

But if your hen hatches any eggs I would put her and the chicks in a large brooder somewhere in your house. Here is a link that you might like to read about raising your chicks with a broody hen in the house:
http://blog.mypetchicken.com/2012/10/16/my-broody-bantam-hen-recipe-for-tame-chicks/
I really enjoyed reading it.

I hope you enjoy BYC, and best of luck with those guinea pigs of yours! Best wishes!

G’Day from down under Sunflower4me Welcome!

As you have already received some great advice from Yorkshire Coop and RodNTN I will just add that I hope you enjoy BYC. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun. Unlike non chicken loving friends, family and colleagues, BYC’ers never tire of stories or pictures that feature our feathered and non feathered friends, including guinea pigs

Silkie roos can sometimes be very protective of the mama and chicks. Some will sit on the eggs so mama can take a break to eat, drink and poo away from her nest. Do make sure your broody hen gets to go out 2 or 3 times a day. Sometimes they will not eat or drink and get in a very rundown state fast. Sending good brooding(and hatching) vibes your way

You are all so fantastic, and I cannot thank you enough for the wonderful tips and advice! I can tell that this is going to be a wonderful place to come to with questions and stories! Also, thank you very much for the kind words on the loss of my rooster. When I first got them, he was walking around with his head tilted to the side and I didn't even think he was going to make it, then he wound up being my biggest and meanest rooster...but only mean to me and only when I was wearing my yellow rain boots...I really think he just had an issue with the rain boots.

I will definitely get some pictures together to share (of the Guinea Pigs as well! ).

drumstick diva said:

Do make sure your broody hen gets to go out 2 or 3 times a day. Sometimes they will not eat or drink and get in a very rundown state fast.

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How do I make sure she's getting enough to eat. I know in the mornings when I let them into their run she comes out with the other hen and rooster to eat, but that's the only time of day I see her coming out. Is there a way to make sure she's getting enough and coming out of the nest often enough? The last thing I want is for her to get sick. She's sitting on 5 eggs right now, too, so that's exciting. Well, there were 5 this morning when I peeked after I let them out into their run.

I'm going to go read through those links posted by everyone! I can definitely tell I'm going to like it here!!

Nice intro, thanks for sharing with us. I'd love to see some of your pictures too when you have the time.

If you're concerned that the broody isn't getting enough nourishment, can you set up a small feed bowl and waterer real close to where she is brooding? That way she won't be so worried about being away from her eggs.

Good luck with the hatch, hope all goes well for you!

Welcome to BYC! It's great to have you.

Thank you N F C, I have placed a small bowl of water and food near where she's brooding, and even stood there holding a bowl near her while she drank. She's done that for two days now when I go out to make sure the water hasn't frozen over. I may be spoiling her, but she's worth it. She's still getting up each morning on her own and going out to eat real quick before heading back up to the eggs. She did roll two of the eggs out of the nest last night and now is only sitting on three, the two she pushed out were freezing cold this morning so I just disposed of them. The other hen laid one in one of the other nesting boxes but isn't broody so she abandoned it and I put it in my fridge for breakfast. Their eggs may be a little on the small side, but are quite tasty.

I'm still working on getting some pictures, last night we had one litter of guinea pigs so I've been a bit busy. We had 4 born, and one was a still born but we have 3 seemingly healthy ones and one proud momma.

Hello there, and welcome to the wonderful world of Backyard Chickens! I hope you will make yourself at home here and enjoy it as much as I have!