getting chicks

[Chicken lover 123]

I have been thinking about getting chicks in the spring and i have a few questions to ask people. I was wondering if my broody hen will take care of the chicks until they are 6 weeks. the breeds of hens i already have are black copper marans and an easter egger. the chicks i would like to get are 2 silkies and 1 blue cochin. also would i have to separate my chicks and hen from the rest of the flock?

 

[Folly's place]

A broody hen, at the right time, and on a good day, might adopt outside day- old chicks. Or she might not, or even kill them. There are good stories and not so good stories here. Remember that Silkies are fragile little guys, and if you need them, get at least three, so they can form their own little group. Also, they might need separate housing, so be ready for that.
I'm maybe a bad example of 'chicken math', but I have never only tried three chicks at once, always more. They will want to form a family group, and loosing one, or worse yet, two, leaves a lonely bird who will be very difficult to integrate into the flock. Especially if it's a Silkie! Mary

 

[Pyxis]

You would need a broody hen for her to want to take care of chicks. Even then, giving her chicks isn't a sure thing. She may be fine with them and take them, or she may ignore them and let them die, or she may just outright kill them. Those are all possibilities.

If you do get a broody, and she does care for the chicks, she may raise them to six weeks old, she may decide she's done with them earlier, or she may decide to keep caring for them much longer, it all depends on the individual broody hen.

There are pros and cons to separate housing for broodies, which are discussed in this article:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-letting-broody-hens-hatch-and-raise-chicks.65989/