in the area north of Kansas City, Missouri, USA ,,, no chicken is safe outside the coop even in the daytime, I have had them die of dog, owl, hawk, coyote and Opossum.
I used a bucket as a nest early this year, the silkie hen/pullet was hatching her first brood, she left the nest for a drink half way through the hatching and three chicks followed her, they could not get back in the nest and died, if I use the bucket again I will bury it so it only sticks out...
five broody hens here, two wyandottes, one silkie and two buckeyes, another Wyandotte hatched hers last weekend. My flock has "chicken math" without my help. I need to eat more chicken
another success here because of the information on this thread !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
my silkie had a tangled mess with chick attached today and the day old australorp was saved.
Thanks to all who answer questions or write of unusual experiences.
I decided (after the success of adoption by two pullets) to place eggs under my third broody, these large fowl buff brahma eggs are scheduled to hatch on Sunday. The broody is a silkie so she only got four eggs. I am not good with candling but I tried.... I gave her eggs that are not clear.
I...
my adoptions are still going well, you all were right, they can't count, one was only sitting for 7 days the other 4 days, the Old English Game Bantam is in a pen with chicks under six weeks old and they leave her alone, the silkie is with her husband and an occasional group of young pullets as...
to all those that have answered questions on this thread: THANK YOU
my old English game bantam and my silkie bantam successfully adopted, my wife and I placed two under each broody pullet last night after dark and today they are acting like experienced moms.
she is on her breeds eggs (OEGB), I would rather have her brood Australorp, might surprise her with incubator chicks in a couple of weeks, she is less than half the size of a silkie.