Broody hen. Would she take weekish old chicks?

[Dakota8472]

I have a silkie pullet. She's been laying for about a month now. Today she has spent all day sitting on eggs. I have 8 chicks in my broader 1 week to 2 weeks old. If a bait and switch would work I'd be thrilled. I'd like to see her raise chicks without the nuisance of having more unexpected chicks.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I have a silkie pullet. She's been laying for about a month now. Today she has spent all day sitting on eggs. I have 8 chicks in my broader 1 week to 2 weeks old. If a bait and switch would work I'd be thrilled. I'd like to see her raise chicks without the nuisance of having more unexpected chicks.

Possibly. You can always try. It just islander because the chicks also have to accept her as mom, which they may not being that old

 

[saysfaa]

She has been setting for one day?

 

[Dakota8472]

She has been setting for one day?

Yup. From this early afternoon to now. She's so sweet sitting in there.

 

[Dakota8472]

Tried them out this am. If the chicks stayed under or behind her they were fine. The second they got out of there and in front of her she was either telling them to get lost or get back under her. Not sure which since I ain't had a hen with chicks yet

 

[Jada22]

Tried them out this am. If the chicks stayed under or behind her they were fine. The second they got out of there and in front of her she was either telling them to get lost or get back under her. Not sure which since I ain't had a hen with chicks yet

How was she acting? A hen will often use her head to try and push the chicks back under her, if she is chasing them then she doesn’t like them.

 

[Dakota8472]

How was she acting? A hen will often use her head to try and push the chicks back under her, if she is chasing them then she doesn’t like them.

She didn't do any chasing till I had all 8 under her and they went wild. So maybe she would work with them but I think they are to mobile now at 11 days old.

 

[saysfaa]

It may not be close enough to the normal 21 days for her to transition from setting to mothering. Or she may be waiting for all the eggs to hatch. Did you take the eggs away? It also might not matter if you did, she doesn't think about it. If the instinct is strong enough, she will set without eggs.

Even if she is willing to transition to mothering now, newly hatched chicks have the yolk to feed and water them for the first couple of days while the rest of the clutch hatches. The week olds will need food or water often.

 

[Dakota8472]

It may not be close enough to the normal 21 days for her to transition from setting to mothering. Or she may be waiting for all the eggs to hatch. Did you take the eggs away? It also might not matter if you did, she doesn't think about it. If the instinct is strong enough, she will set without eggs.

Even if she is willing to transition to mothering now, newly hatched chicks have the yolk to feed and water them for the first couple of days while the rest of the clutch hatches. The week olds will need food or water often.

Yeah I did snag them. I put them back after I removed the chicks. She was so happy to put them all back just where she had them.