How many can a mom handle?

mccaff mama hen

Songster
10 Years
Nov 18, 2009
139
0
109
Central Indiana
I'm curious if anyone can tell me how many babies can one mommy handle? Or has anyone had luck with a recently broody silkie, accepting so new babies? A week ago I has several brooches, a fox got 2 of them and I'm expecting 20 sultans on Friday and would perfer to have a mommy raise them outside. I have a BO raising 10 silkie babies and I don't think she can handle much more? Any suggestions?
 
The hen can only handle as many as she can sit on and keep warm.
smile.png
 
I had an australarp raise 27...there were little heads poking out from EVERYWHERE. She may or may not have stolen them from other mama hens. I couldn't get them from her either. She left the other moms with 5 a piece.
 
try giving her a nest of golf balls and see if she is triggered by them. I just succeeded in putting 3 day old chicks under a new broody. It was a black orp and I held my breath as I tucked an expendable chick as a test under her. She snuggled right in so I gave her 5 others:)
I really do like using broodies to graft new chicks. Ours came back into lay much faster and healthier if they didn't have to set for a full 3 weeks.
 
Ok I know Im going to get bashed for this one. Letme say first off it has been really hot here. I had my silkie mother 33 and another frizzle mother 27. Didnt lose one chick. Now my silkie is broody again right now she has 11 chicks and tomorrow I am giving her 15 to 20 more. I have avery nice HUGE doublebrooder just in case but so far this summer its been really warm and I have been brave and lucky.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom