Foster Mothers

[chickenbuddy]

I was curious. People say silkies are good foster mothers. Do they mean they will hatch eggs other that their own or does it mean they will mother chicks that are already hatched?

 

[katrinag]

They will hatch any eggs you give them. I would not just give them baby chicks and expect them to raise them.

 

[lichick28]

I gave my silkie girl a few chicks & she accepted them right away. I did stay near by & watched that she wouldnt hurt them & she didnt. tried it with others & they wanted no part of it

 

[Silkiemama]

Silkies are famous for sitting on eggs - any eggs, and will raise any baby that hatches out. As far as putting other already hatched chicks with them, it all depends on the hen. We tried putting new born chicks in with our two hens last spring, and they wouldn't have anything to do with the babies - except at night, they did let the little chicks sit under them at night. Other than that, nada.

 

[chickenbuddy]

Okay! Thanks for the info. I've read several times that silkies make great foster mothers but I never quite got what that meant.