If hen hatches any chicks...

[americana-chick]

If my Silkie hen ends up hatching any chicks (she is due the 23rd) should i switch her to a differnt nest that would be easier for the baby chicks to get in and out of or do you think the Silkie can handle it? And do i put chick feed with the hen and her chicks along with adult bird feed for the hen?
Thanks

 

[debilorrah]

Mama can handle it. However!!! As long as she is with other laying hens, they are going to go behind her and "donate" to her cause. If you keep her there, then mark the eggs, so you can take the donations out.

 

[elmo]

I switched nests for the same reason on the day that our hen first lead her chicks off the nest. It worked fine.

 

[americana-chick]

Quote:
Yep i was planning on mooving her pretty soon. So far none of the other hens have tried to donate to her because if they even get near the nest she will peck them like crazy

and there are about 10 other nests boxes above ground that the other hens like to use. I really hope my Silkie will do a good job! Has anyone ever heard of a Silkie not hatching any chicks?

 

[MareeZoCool]

My2-weeks old peeps have done fine with their momma hen's care. No chick starter feed, just her choosing the bugs and other foods for her brood. She takes them out daily, teaching them how & where to forage & which bugs are the best. It's easy, having a mother hen care for those chicks!She breaks up worms and any scraps of food, rarely eats until her babies have eaten.

 

[americana-chick]

Quote:
Ok thanks! I was really wondering if i should pay for chick feed or not

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
Yep i was planning on mooving her pretty soon. So far none of the other hens have tried to donate to her because if they even get near the nest she will peck them like crazy

and there are about 10 other nests boxes above ground that the other hens like to use. I really hope my Silkie will do a good job! Has anyone ever heard of a Silkie not hatching any chicks?

She`ll do a fine job, as long as the eggs are fertile. The chicks do need easy access to the nest though.........Pop

 

[americana-chick]

Quote:
Yep i was planning on mooving her pretty soon. So far none of the other hens have tried to donate to her because if they even get near the nest she will peck them like crazy

and there are about 10 other nests boxes above ground that the other hens like to use. I really hope my Silkie will do a good job! Has anyone ever heard of a Silkie not hatching any chicks?

She`ll do a fine job, as long as the eggs are fertile. The chicks do need easy access to the nest though.........Pop

Do you think that changing her to a differnt nest would make her stop being broody? I know when i moved my Porcelain d'uccle bantam when she was broody she wouldnt sit in any other nest, only the one she started in.

But i have heard that Silkies are great broodies! I have had a few Silkies before but they have never gone broody. I know that the eggs are fertile, I do a check on my eggs fertility every week or so

I just bought some new shoes so maybe i can try to change the shoe box into a nest box

Where would be the best place to move the hen? I know there are mice in the coop, will she protect the chicks? Or could i move her into my basement (it would be dark down there most of the time) ?