I have a broody Silkie, and it is really tempting to get some fertile eggs and slip 'em under her. This would be the first time hatching eggs with a hen. I don't have an incubator, so if she stops... uh oh. And I don't feel like paying $50-100 to get an incubator, as I am "youngish" and don't have that money. My mom has put her food down to have any more chicks in the house (I got away with it 4 times, I think I'm lucky) so they would have to stay outside. My worry is the cold... and my other hens. I can put mama hen and babies/eggs in an insulated dog house, turned chicken coop, though. But will the Silkie get frostbite, or worse freeze to death, from the cold? If I kept her with the other chickens would the other hens hurt the babies? Also how would I keep the chicks from not eating the grown-up feed and keep the adults from eating the baby feed?
Any other detail is much appreciated!
Any other detail is much appreciated!