Foolhardy? You bet and I'm loving every minute of it!

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

After getting fed up cleaning an old, antiquaited brooder for the millionth time, I caught myself eyeballing my silkie hen...and my eyes wandered back to the actual inhabitants of said brooder, 5 mixed breed chicks that are around a month old. Hmmm, wonder what would happen if I merged the two? NeeNee, the silkie, is not broody, but she is the lowest hen on the totem pole, hence the isolation because she was getting thin from being run around by the big girls. I carefully set one baby into NeeNee's coop...and waited. She seemed rather perplexed and kept looking and looking...no aggression though....so I introduced another...same reaction. And another. Still no attack...waiting...finally, all five babies were in NeeNee's personal space...and she didn't seem to care. Soon they were sharing the waterer, the feed, all with NeeNee's calm regard. It's been a couple of hours and she is completely tolerant still. No pecking whatsoever! Please no criticism...I know I am taking my little ones' safety in my hands, but I really do think NeeNee is up to this... : )

Are all silkies like this?

 

[fldiver97]

Good .... I hope she will 'adopt' the young ones and have company!!!

 

[awesomefowl]

Silkies are nice chickens! Even though my cockerels did make each other's combs bleed ONCE....

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

Update: NeeNee is still playing mommie...and she even went so far as to "call" the chicks when I offered her treats! She took grass I offered and dropped it on the ground while calling! LOL

 

[Toast n Jelly]

BigDaddy'sGurl :

Update: NeeNee is still playing mommie...and she even went so far as to "call" the chicks when I offered her treats! She took grass I offered and dropped it on the ground while calling! LOL

What a sweet girl!

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

yet another update: NeeNee is officially "broody", lol....although she is at the point of lay, and has never been with a chick before now, she is officially a surrogate mother! She's been progressively more "motherly" for the last couple of days, and a few minutes ago I went out with a flashlight to check on her in the dark and at first panicked because the babies were gone! Looked closer and realized ALL five little ones that are over a month old were UNDER NeeNee! She was clucking quietly and had settled herself over them to the point that I had to reach under to even feel one. I think she is actually propped up by the little boogers...and she is on cloud nine. I think I have officially got myself a feathered "brooder" and may employ her services for the next group once these little ones outgrow her... : )

 

[noodleroo]

Thats great! I wish I had one! You are soooo lucky!

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

thank you so much! Who would have thought that a point of lay pullet who had never even delivered an egg before would happily adopt a rag-tag gang of mixed breed chicks that are already feathered out? Hilarious and adorable at the same time...

 

[azygous]

That is the BEST story I've heard on this site in ages! You are really lucky to have Nee Nee! She's a golden girl!

 

[mgw]

That's such a great story. Hope you have continued success! Way to go neenee