We mixed our week old bantams in the brooder with three week old silkies. One of the bantam cochins in particular was trying to find himself a Momma and was getting tormented by the silkies. I took him out for awhile to settle things down. When I put him back in, one of the blue silkies gathered them all up in a corner and is warming them and fighting off the enemies. It's about the cutest thing I have ever seen. I may not have to give away the little pest after all. Just wondering if you old time chicken people know if this is possible? She's even protecting them from the Less-Than-Divine Miss M!
our EE's that we got from the kindergarden hatch project had a day old leghorn added in when they were about a week old... and all of them huddled around her to keep her warm... it was about the cutest thing... keep an eye on that one.... and let us know if the instinct sticks and she goes broody first thing...
An Internet friend of mine who breeds Silkies says that even her babies take care of other breed babies. We were discussing her sending chicks to me and she mentioned putting a few older Silkie chicks in to take care of the babies on the way and keep them eating. Her birds are supposed to be VERY maternal
I had a speckled sussex chick AND a welsummer chick that hovered every little bird you'd put in with them. They are SO cute, babies cuddling the babies!
I had a splash OEGB do that with older quail chicks. I was so sure I had a potential broody hen...until he started crowing.
