First time broody

[heatherlaw]

My 6 month old silkie, who has only been laying eggs for 2 weeks, has decided to go broody. She screams in rage every time I open the coop and if I pull her out of the nest she heads right back in. I put one of her eggs under her (all she's laid so far have been fertil) and have portiond off that end of the coop so nobody bugs her.
So I have two questions
1) will she loose her place in the pecking order? She's head hen and I'd like to keep it that way.
2) is she too young? She is 6 months old and her eggs are so small, though they may just stay that was because she's a silkie.

 

[SnowPeeOstrichU]

Hi there!

Since she has just started laying, her eggs probably will get bigger. If you let her hatch, I would separate her to make sure her and any chicks have all the space they need. Also, if you do so, start by settling her somewhere else and make sure she is situated before you let her have eggs. If she does have eggs and is away, she will lose her spot in the pecking order because she will no longer be participating but that does not mean she won't just regain it once she returns to the flock.

Also, I'm not too familiar with the silkie breed and their specific behaviors in reference to this but chickens are all one species, of course.


Hope this helps!

 

[cypressdrake]

The other hens know their place, and knows she's still there. If she runs the yard, she will still have her place in that same crowd. They maybe some pecking involved, and maybe not.
If she's setting, she's going to hatch them. I always hatch first eggs, and they are always high in fertility. If she knows how to set, the rest will come natural to her as well. It's amazing how nature has it's way of reproducing.

 

[heatherlaw]

Thank you for your responses that answers my question. I like my little Jane being the big boss because she's so small compared to the others and with her in charge I don't have to worry as much about her getting hurt by the big ones.
She is bound and determined to hatch that little egg. Been siting on the nest for a couple days and gets mad when I go anywhere near her.