Broody mum squashing chicks

[ausmumof3]

So one of dds silkies has a bad batch earlier in the year where she only hatched two and both died. It was less than ideal set up and we assumed it was that. However she’s in a good place now and with this batch has trampled two out of 7. Would you take the rest away? She seems very clumsy when moving around and getting on and off

 

[sourland]

By any chance are her feet heavily feathered ? If so I would trim the feathers. Generally I have found silkies to be very careful with their chicks. Some larger, heavy breed hens are clumsier and squash chicks.

 

[ausmumof3]

By any chance are her feet heavily feathered ? If so I would trim the feathers. Generally I have found silkies to be very careful with their chicks. Some larger, heavy breed hens are clumsier and squash chicks.

Ok I will check that.
The other silkies are all very careful but she literally jumps in and lands on the chicks

 

[sourland]

Ok I will check that.
The other silkies are all very careful but she literally jumps in and lands on the chicks

Can't you arrange things so that she doesn't have to jump into wherever the chicks are ?

 

[ausmumof3]

Maybe? They like these green layer boxes we have to sit in but I could possibly. I’m a little nervous now.

for what it’s worth she doesn’t have to jump in she just does. The other hens all manage fine. It’s just the way she does it but maybe eliminating that would work. For the moment we have the chicks out under the heat lamp though. She’s still sitting on a few eggs. The chicks we lost were sebright and I’m also wondering if the smaller size makes them more vulnerable.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I have 4 silkie they co brood maybe you could see if one of the others would take a few