Broody Silkie

[Sassysilkie]

I have my first broody girl, I knew silkies are known for being broody. I do have a rooster (who is also a silkie). But I feel absolutely horrible taking the eggs away from her but I also feel horrible seeing her sleeping alone in the box especially now that its getting COLDER in ny.
Do I have to immediately take her eggs from under her? She isnt even laying on her own eggs. (Do chickens not know which eggs are theirs? Or will they still raise another hens chicks?)
I have done my own research but always love hearing peoples own experiences and view point.

 

[FrostRanger]

First off, do you want more chicks right now? If so mark the eggs you want her to hatch with a sharpie and remove all others. If not then I would break her by putting her in broody jail (bare bottomed dog crate with food, water and a perch) for a few days. No, they neither know nor care which eggs are theirs, broodies will literally sit on golfballs or even wood shavings if broody enough. Unless you're seeing temps significantly below 0F I wouldn't worry about the cold, she's fine as long as she's out of the elements and the coop has plenty of ventilation (high humidity causes frostbite and that is often caused by poor ventilation). Just remove new eggs from the nest and let her do her thing if you want to let her hatch

 

[2ndTink]

I have silkies, neither they nor any of the other breeds of hens that I've had go broody care who's eggs they sit on. Or if there are eggs at all

I agree with @FrostRanger if you don't want chicks this time of year, you should break her. Especially with silkies, they will stay broody and not eat to their own detriment, so it will be kinder to break her vs let her stay broody if you don't want chicks. If you want chicks in the spring I'm sure she will be very happy to hatch them for you. You can hatch eggs from your own pen or even find a reputable breeder and get hatching eggs of a breed you would like.