Help with my new chicks - advice needed!

[silkiemumma]

Hi guys! My broody Silkie is currently hatching four fertile eggs, from a random breed (what breed is the photo?!). One hatched last night and another is currently peeping.
I'm at a cross roads! I thought I would leave them with mum and let her raise them, but this seems like a lot of work for me as the coop is up high, they can't access food or water unless I put them outside and it's wet and muddy? I have 4 other large chickens that peck at mum, so do I really want to put the chicks with them??

What do I do?
I have a brooder set up already from my first lot of chickens, they can access food and water as it's all on level & I have a heater. Do I take the first chick or wait for them all to hatch and move all four? Shall I move mum?

I had my mind made up until right this second! helppppp me
Xxx

 

[Granny Hatchet]

What a cutie ! Leave them til mom is done hatching up to 2 days then move them all to the brooder. If the others are picking on her right now while she is sitting try to put something up where they cant reach her.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Do you have chick feeders and waterers? You could put those inside the coop. Chicks usually start jumping/flying at about three weeks. I would also suggest putting shavings in that run. No one likes a muddy silkie.

If you want to brood them yourself, it is fine to leave them with momma for the first 48-72 hours until everybody hatches. They have a reserve and don't need food or water for up to three days. Then you can decide if you really want to care for them yourself.

The chick look like an easter egger to me.

*edit
What color are her feet?

 

[silkiemumma]

Do you have chick feeders and waterers? You could put those inside the coop. Chicks usually start jumping/flying at about three weeks. I would also suggest putting shavings in that run. No one likes a muddy silkie.

If you want to brood them yourself, it is fine to leave them with momma for the first 48-72 hours until everybody hatches. They have a reserve and don't need food or water for up to three days. Then you can decide if you really want to care for them yourself.

The chick look like an easter egger to me.

*edit
What color are her feet?

I may give it a few days to decide then and see how the other take to them. Her feet are pale, here's her and the other eggs!

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Ooh, you have yourself an F1 olive egger! Her daddy was an easter egger and she will have his feather colors. Her momma was a Marans. Possibly wheaton.

If you got them from a private breeder, I would almost bet money that they all have the same sire. They should all be some kind of 'egger.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

I may give it a few days to decide then and see how the other take to them. Her feet are pale, here's her and the other eggs!

I find it rather strange that the broody isn't sitting on those eggs since they're in the hatching phase... especially while they're pipping. This is a very critical time when the eggs need to retain moisture so the inner membrane doesn't shrink wrap around the chick. It doesn't take long at all. Just my thought of something that shouldn't be happening at this time.

 

[silkiemumma]

Ooh, you have yourself an F1 olive egger! Her daddy was an easter egger and she will have his feather colors. Her momma was a Marans. Possibly wheaton.

If you got them from a private breeder, I would almost bet money that they all have the same sire. They should all be some kind of 'egger.

There was a list of possible breeds when I bought the eggs but I honestly have no idea! She is a super cute chicky though!!

 

[silkiemumma]

I find it rather strange that the broody isn't sitting on those eggs since they're in the hatching phase... especially while they're pipping. This is a very critical time when the eggs need to retain moisture so the inner membrane doesn't shrink wrap around the chick. It doesn't take long at all. Just my thought of something that shouldn't be happening at this time.

She was only off them as I placed some scraps out of the nest and she ran for them! She wasn't off then long, took some greens and straight back on then.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

I see. A few seconds shouldn't hurt anything, but I think it's strange she would even consider leaving the nest with chicks hatching. Has she ever brooded a clutch of chicks before?

 

[silkiemumma]

I see. A few seconds shouldn't hurt anything, but I think it's strange she would even consider leaving the nest with chicks hatching. Has she ever brooded a clutch of chicks before?

It's her first! I've had to tempt her off before she had eggs and was broody as she'd refuse to eat or drink!