Broody silkie

[22lilchickens]

I currently have a silkie hen go broody, she and her rooster, (I only have two silkies) are in there coop which is one of those you can buy at tractor supply or wherever. Well no matter how many times I'd pick them up and put them in the coop part they will not go in there and I would have to push them out.

So since is summer I let them just stay in the run part. Well she has made a little nest part in the corner part of the pen( the whole pen has a roof and where she is at has wood siding).And I want to move her to the coop part so she can have a best box and so the rooster won't mess with her, but I don't want to kick her out of being broody, should I move her or just let her stay there until the eggs hatch then move her from the rooster encase he decides he doesn't like the chicks(he is a mean little bugger not towards the hen but towards anything else). Can someone help me out??

 

[22lilchickens]

Here is what there pen looks like

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

So, I'm guessing she's under the coop, where there appears to be that wood siding you were talking about?
If your run is predator proof and theres no chance she could be gotten there- nothing could possibly dig under or reach through or rip the wire, then you could just leave her. Some hens take to being moved, some don't. My Silkie hens are pretty good about moving if I have to do it (usually because of space issues, I have quite a few Silkie hens and they all like to go broody at the same time), but I usually leave them in the coop. Of course, yours isn't in a coop My roosters are quite sweet with them though, and their chicks when they hatch. So, what do you mean he's mean to the hen? That may be a concern, roosters that don't dote on their hens usually don't do well with chicks being around either. Maybe it would be easier to lock him in the coop?

Anyway, I'm not much help
I would try moving her, probably at night would be easiest. I've moved them during the day and I don't think I've ever had a hen just stop being broody altogether. Now, I'm sure it happens, but I don't think its the most common reaction. I've had them run right back to the old nest, or if they can't, pitch a fit, pace, break eggs and, best case scenario, sit like perfect little ladies. I've had them sit in the broody breaker (a medium dog kennel) for days and go straight back to being broody.

It really depends on the hen. Good luck

 

[22lilchickens]

Yes she is under the coop and keeps herself and the eggs in the corner today is ether 21 or 22 day so I fenced in my chicken tractor I don't use cuz I need new fencing for it and put the silkie rooster in it with one of my buff Orpington hen for company and I'm glad I moved him today just went outside one of her eggs has hatched! I'm really glad I checked cuz it's shell was covering one of the other eggs so I took it put from under her and set it aside

 

[SpoilMyPooch]

Yes she is under the coop and keeps herself and the eggs in the corner today is ether 21 or 22 day so I fenced in my chicken tractor I don't use cuz I need new fencing for it and put the silkie rooster in it with one of my buff Orpington hen for company and I'm glad I moved him today just went outside one of her eggs has hatched! I'm really glad I checked cuz it's shell was covering one of the other eggs so I took it put from under her and set it aside

Yes, that sounds like a wise move because of how your rooster is behaving. Although lots of people report that their roosters are fine with chicks, others roosters could kill them- as could other hens. So you are best to be cautious and safe. If all goes well, your next dilemma will be when to re integrate your Silkie and her chicks back into the main flock!

In my Broody Hen guide I look at the advantages and disadvantages of separating broody hens (Qu. 18 & Qu.19.)