3 hens + 8 chicks... but only 2 are the mamas.

[swtbtrcup]

I bought a family of white silkies yesterday. Its a roo, 3 hens and 8 chicks. They could only tell me what 3 chicks belong to one mama and 5 to the other.. and one hen has none.

I have 3 pens and had to put the roo in one of them next to the 3 hens and chicks due to the size of pens. So my question is... Should I leave all the hens with the babies or could I safely put one back in with the Roo and see if the 2 hens will care for the chicks. I know for sure which of the hens is a mom its just the 2 smaller hens that they werent sure about. They even suggested I just leave all 8 chicks with the one hen.

The chicks are 5 days and 8 days old.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

I would just leave all the chicks with the 3 hens. I have babies running around my main silkie pen and noone bothers them. In fact one of my silkies hatched a blue giant egg a month ago and that chick is still in with them SHes nearly as tall as her mama but she still runs to her In my other pen I have a family of silkies mom,dad and 2 babies all is well there eve the roo takes care of the chicks.

edit to ad: welcome to BYC Hope to see you at the swap this weekend. Micki

 

[debilorrah]

Sugar Sand I disagree with you only because chickens are flock animals and the roo is gonna be downright lonely if he doesn't have someone in there with him. Seperation could work if the roo is right next to the hens and chicks, but chickens need other chickens.

 

[swtbtrcup]

Thanks. I spent some time hanging out with them and decided to put one hen back in with the rooster. I noticed the babies needed to stick with 2 of the hens so I grabbed the odd hen out hahah.

They were right next to each other so he could atleast see and chicken chat with them.

Carol