Baby and adult chicken question?

[Birdmaster8]

So I have 2 brooders set up (one for new chicks and one for baby turkeys) and I woke up to find that some how one of my silkie hens had snuck in with the baby turkeys. At first I thought she was trying to kill or attack them, but luckily noone got hurt. So I was wondering whether you think she was trying to mother them or something? also would a silkie hen adopt some bourbon red turkeys? This silkie has been known to be a attention hog so maybe she was jealous of the new babies?

(Ps I hope this is in the right section )

 

[azygous]

I'm not familiar with Silkies, but I've heard they're renowned for their urge to nurture. So, my money is on your hen wanting to mother the turkey chicks.

I had a Wyandotte hen decide she was going to take over raising some six-week old chicks I'd raised last summer. She actually developed broody hormones and was emitting what I like to call the "broody cluck", a rapid popping noise. She wasn't broody to the point of wanting to sit on a nest, but she hovered over, fed, and taught the chicks until they were almost four months old, then she lost interest and her hormones returned to normal.

It might be fun to put your Silkie with the turkeys and see if she broods them. It would also be interesting to see if she goes broody like my hen did. My hen, by the way, has been broody very regularly for all of her six years, much like Silkies are prone to being broody.

Please let us know how this develops.

 

[Birdmaster8]

I'm not familiar with Silkies, but I've heard they're renowned for their urge to nurture. So, my money is on your hen wanting to mother the turkey chicks.

I had a Wyandotte hen decide she was going to take over raising some six-week old chicks I'd raised last summer. She actually developed broody hormones and was emitting what I like to call the "broody cluck", a rapid popping noise. She wasn't broody to the point of wanting to sit on a nest, but she hovered over, fed, and taught the chicks until they were almost four months old, then she lost interest and her hormones returned to normal.

It might be fun to put your Silkie with the turkeys and see if she broods them. It would also be interesting to see if she goes broody like my hen did. My hen, by the way, has been broody very regularly for all of her six years, much like Silkies are prone to being broody.

Please let us know how this develops.

Ok I might try it, I am still a little scared that she may hurt the babies >.<

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have used my bantam hens to hatch turkey eggs and once allowed them to raise them. The hen did a wonderful job. The problem was that the turkeys imprinted on the hen. The poults continued to grow. The chickens quickly became a bit afraid of the much larger turkeys and it was almost impossible to keep the ever growing turkeys out of the bantam pen. It was even harder trying to get them with the turkeys. We eventually culled two of them and the third successfully joined the adult turkeys after months.

I now use my bantam to hatch my eggs but pull the poults to raise myself. They are also more friendly when handled.

 

[Birdmaster8]

I have used my bantam hens to hatch turkey eggs and once allowed them to raise them. The hen did a wonderful job. The problem was that the turkeys imprinted on the hen. The poults continued to grow. The chickens quickly became a bit afraid of the much larger turkeys and it was almost impossible to keep the ever growing turkeys out of the bantam pen. It was even harder trying to get them with the turkeys. We eventually culled two of them and the third successfully joined the adult turkeys after months.

I now use my bantam to hatch my eggs but pull the poults to raise myself. They are also more friendly when handled.

Ok thanks for the advice