Broody Hen to get chicks tonight

[san415]

I have a Silkie Hen that is broody a lot. I got 4 eggs from a guy at work, but they are not fertile. Poor Baby Blanche has been broody for much of the time since November! I have a small rabbit hutch that I use for Chicken Prison. So I got that all ready for Blanche to have the baby chicks in, either the ones I was hoping would hatch or as it stands now the 2 chicks in a plastic tub next to the wood burner. I can not get Blanche to want to sit on her eggs in the hutch. Many of my hens prefer to lay their eggs in there. But no not Baby Blanche. So today I tried once more....no luck, I left her locked in for about 3 hours, since her eggs are duds it didn't matter to he eggs health. She just spent all that time upset and trying to break out.Never sat in the interior nest area at all. I tried to get her in the nest area but she made her escape when I had the top open. She ran as fast as she could into the main coop and got in "her" nest box. So I gave her back one of the eggs and she is sitting on it tight.

I spent 3 hours making a partition to help keep her 2 surprise chicks safe. I was going to just let her and the baby chicks be on their own in the coop. But one of my dominate hens wont let her have any peace in the nest box lately. The older hen will go so far as to sit on top of Baby Blanche and lay her egg. So I think she will harm the chicks.

I hope this is going to turn out ok, the chicks are 5 days old. I can not get to the feed store till Saturdays and that wont change due to my work and their hours. Also a major concern is the weather. It is so cold here in Michigan still. We had a couple of nice days but it is back to the high 30s now. They have a good coop and a lot of wood shavings and hay. I also have a light in the coop I could leave on when I get home from work at 7pm till about 9pm to warm the coop up for the night. I just hope my little silkie hen can keep them warm enough.

I got one gold laced Wyandotte and one buff brahma chick for her. Can anyone think of any thing more I can do? I plan to slip the chicks under her at about 4am. Does that time seem ok? Should I also put the water in with her at that time or wait till first light?

Thanks for any input, Sandra

 

[san415]

Ok I just put the baby chicks out in the coop. The Broody hen ( a Silkie) woke up and pecked at my hand a little. I didn't turn on a light but the yard light by the garage came on. It was still very dark though. Gosh I hope they will be ok. Its cold here if Baby Blanche isn't able to keep them warm enough they wont make it to the morning. Worry...Worry....Worry. Hope I did the right thing letting her have chicks this early in the year.

 

[Caddy-Corner-Chick]

Quote:
Best of luck, I will be looking forward to an update in the morning so pleaseeeeee post one

 

[san415]

I will Miss CCC ( caddy corner chick) Just as soon as I can.

 

[san415]

Well its early and still dark outside. I put a dish of oyster shell and a chick water container out to the coop at about 5:30. I looked all around the sectioned off area, with a flashlight, no chicks to be seen. So they are under the fluffed out mom. I am sure they are still sleeping,so no peeping. Man it was so cold last night, if they are ok when 1st light gets here then, I think they will be just fine. Really I am so sick of winter, we have had so much cold and snow this year. Really it just needs to warm up a bit.

I will go back out in a while to check again. I opened the pop door already so I will hear if the other hens are up and about. I hope to get some pictures today of the chicks peeking out from under Baby Blanche ( the adoptive Mom hen), and also of how I sectioned the nursery area off.

So far so good Sandra

 

[Caddy-Corner-Chick]

Well sounds good so far but would like to know a little more and some pictures if you have some

 

[san415]

Hi every one! There is a new post with pics. They are doing fine still! Well off to work, have a great day everyone.

 

[nuttyredhead]

Quote:
Yeah!!!

I wouldnt worry about the temps, mama will keep them nice and warm! My broody hatched hers 5 weeks ago and it was coooold here! I gave my other broody day olds last week, and after a few questionable days she is doing very well!!!!!

Cant wait to look at the pics!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Glad it went well.

However, mom and the babies don't need oyster shell. Just chick starter and water.

 

[san415]

Using my ity bity phone, so i hope this comes out ok. Happy chooks I will remove the outer shell that I put in for the mom, thanks
I will try for pics of the chicks when I get home from work, though it might be to dark.