Broody dilemma. WWYD?

[chickintexas]

She's hatching 2 more eggs at the moment and I'm thinking that I'll have a 3-3 hatch. 10 very good D'uccle eggs in the incubator. I can't leave the chicks out with her forever because I'm afraid the other girls will kill them even though I've got her separated in the coop while they are in the run. I've got a brooder with 6 chicks and I'm thinking about taking the newly hatched Silkie chicks from mama and giving her some of the D'uccles eggs.
What would you do if you were in my place?

 

[schellie69]

If she has hatched the eggs I think she would be done sitting and not sit on the eggs. Is there any way to make a spot for just her and her babies?

 

[riverman]

Yea just as schellie said, she'll probably stick with the chicks and if you take them away she probably wont sit again so sudden. In my experience with broodies that's what happens.

 

[NonnasBabies]

I agree. Cause alot of times if they have some eggs that take longer than a couple of days after the first ones hatch they will kick them out the nest and concentrate on the babies!! My first broody had her chicks with her for 7 weeks when I took them and it took her prob another 3 weeks to stop looking for them!!

 

[WhetzelMomma]

Especially if you have them separated, you should leave them with "mom". Chicks raised by mom are rarely injured by the rest of the flock. She stands up for them from what I hear... Everyone I know that's done broody hens and had chicks that way swears it's MUCH easier and really successful.

 

[chickintexas]

Unfortunately, my Silkie is a weenie. The big girls push her around all the time.
I have actually taken chick number 1 from her and placed it in the brooder with the others without any issues. I'm thinking that I will start placing D'uccle eggs under her each time I take a chick from her. And after the last egg hatches, place a few more eggs under her. She is completely secluded from the big girls for now in the coop but I would prefer to keep the coop open for them. I have no real safe place for her to stay secluded for a long period of time from the other chickens. Eggs are safe from the big girls. Chicks? Not so sure about that and not willing to take that chance.

 

[chickintexas]

When it comes right down to it...I'm concerned for her health. I take away newly hatched chicks just to place week old artificially incubated eggs to give them a better chance at hatching. Good? Bad? Other?

 

[riverman]

I think the more you expose your other girls to the chicks the better. There's always a pecking list and bullies, but make something where the little ones can run in but the big hens cant get them. Like a wire box with 2 little opening holes that the chicks can run in for safety if needed. I'll take a picture of mine and post tomorrow.

And I also think its a good idea to put week long incubated eggs under your broody for sure. Definitely in better hands than a Styrofoam box.

But you also might wanna let her raise a chick.

 

[drdoolittle]

If it were me, I would find a way to leave the chicks with mom. Also, I would think after sitting on her own eggs, it wouldn't be good for her to sit another batch of eggs so soon. Good luck, whatever you decide.