Hatching silkies?

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mommhen

mommhen

In the Brooder
5 Years
Dec 23, 2014
27
1
24
Hi all I'm new to byc though I have been reading all your great posts a while, just recently signed up.

So, I have 2 broody silkies hens, 1 non broody hen, and 2 roo's... All living in the same coop, with the broody girls in the nesting box.

Once they hatch, should I worry about the Roos? They are pretty friendly but I'm nervous as I'm not home a lot to look over them cause I work full time. Should I build a maternity ward for them (which will be a lot of work predator proofing it where I live in the mountains in CA)? Any advice since I'm not home much to help with the hatch and watch over them?
 
Hi mommhen, and welcome to BYC!
I'm not particularly sure about your problem but 3 hens to 2 roosters just by itself doesn't seem like a good ratio. 1 rooster is definitely enough for 3 hens.
Anyway, I hope someone has a better answer and more brain cells than I do...
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Merry Christmas!
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Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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Yes, that is a lot of roosters per hens. The correct ratio of rooster to hen is 1 roo to 8 to 10 hens. As for your broody and her babies, generally momma does take care of her chicks and can protect them however for those first few days I like to keep them separate from the flock. While the broody is incubating the eggs, section her off so that the others cannot access her, her eggs or her babies. Of course put food and water in this area for the babies and momma.

Good luck with the broody hatch and welcome to our flock!
 
They are sectioned off with a curtain thing I made and the others seem to leave them alone, I just hope when they hatch without me there they dont get hurt. I will getting rid of one roo this weekend also. hopefully the hatch is successful!
 
A curtain wouldn't protect your chicks if other hens wanted to attack them. Some mothers are very protective others don't have a clue especially - first time moms. Roosters may kill chicks as well.

If you leave water out once the chicks have hatched - use a swallow bowl with clean marbles or glass pebbles - because baby chicks don't have great balance and can & do fall into water bowls and drown.

Mom and eggs/chicks do better in a private nursery area until - mom thinks it is time to present family to the flock.
 
Making them a separate coop may not be possible. The others dont even go into the nesting box they sleep outside of it and leave the eggs and mamma alone thus far. But I will put some starter feed and water in there before the hatch, thanks!
 

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