Bad Luck with baby silkies

[SmoresandMinnie]

I just had two baby silkies hatched by a broody silkie hen, one yesterday, the other the day before. The first one was doing great, the second one was not doing good so we put her in a box with a heat lamp for a day, and she perked up. So last night I put her with the hen and other chick. I checked them this morning and they were both doing good, mother still with them. Then an hour later my husband checked and they were both dead! I think the other chickens jumped in the nest and accidentally or on purpose killed them. There's 3 or more hens that want to use this one laying box even though we have 3 boxes. We have 15 or 16 hens. The little silkie mom that hatched the chicks is still on the nest, so not sure what to do now. If we let her hatch more eggs what should we do differently? I was going to put her on the floor today, with her chicks but then found them dead. I don't know if she would've staying with them on the ground or not, she hasn't left the nest in a month. I need some advice on what to do if I attempt this again.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Your hen needs to be separated. Other hens will kill chicks. I separate mine where they can be seen. I release under supervision when chicks are 2 weeks or older.

You can set more eggs under your hen as long as she hasn't been setting too long. Hens lose weight, and can become overrun with external parasites when setting too long. Silkies seem to be more prone to mites and lice in general.

 

[SmoresandMinnie]

Your hen needs to be separated. Other hens will kill chicks. I separate mine where they can be seen. I release under supervision when chicks are 2 weeks or older.

You can set more eggs under your hen as long as she hasn't been setting too long. Hens lose weight, and can become overrun with external parasites when setting too long. Silkies seem to be more prone to mites and lice in general.

She has been sitting for about a month. Even when we take the eggs every day she will still sit and not leave the nest. How do I get her to leave the nest?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You will need to break her by penning her away from her chosen nest spot. Usually what's best is a wire bottom crate slightly elevated off the ground. Most silkies are hard to break, so I would expect it to take a week or so. Most other breeds break in 3-5 days. When you release her if she returns to the nest than back into the cage for another few days.

Silkies will go broody often, so expect to break her often.

 

[sourland]

Break her broodiness as suggested by oldhenlikesdogs. She will lay another clutch and go broody again. Secure her nest site so that other chickens can not bother her if you want a successful incubation and hatch; otherwise, you can expect the same unsuccessful result.