Hi from Sunny Florida

[Bernie55]

I am fairly new to raising chickens. So bear with me. I typically incubate fertile eggs but decided to try letting my sweet little silkie brooders do their thing. Just saw 4 chicks this morning and wanted to know if the hens will care for them? Do I need to remove the rooster from the pen or any other special instructions? Thanks for any help.

 

[Lollipop]

Hi Bernie, welcome to BYC. If you have a broody that has been setting for a couple weeks and the chicks you want are 3 days or less old, it may be worth a try. Older chicks won't do and a new broody probably won't either. Of course Silkies are super broodies and anything is possible, but very iffy. If you try it, either way, do it at night so that she wakes up with them in the morning. Be there when she wakes up in case she rejects them. DO NOT try this if the hen is not broody or she hasn't been broody for a couple weeks. If your rooster/s are mature, as in over 1 year, they/he shouldn't be a problem. Good luck........Pop

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

Were the chicks hatched out by one of your hens? If you know which one, it is a lot safer for the chicks to be separated - with their mother - in their own own pen. Chicks can be injured by other birds, and sometimes hens will fight over them, also potentially leading to injury.

 

[dawg53]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad you joined.

 

[dreamer5577]

Hi && Welcome!!!

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[Bernie55]

Thanks everyone for the nice welcome and all the information. Nice to be here.

 

[Bernie55]

Thank you, it helped.

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

Welcome Bernie55 Check out the thread Florida always sunny side up. It's in the Where am I? Where are you? forum. Always nice to meet a new neighbor.