I've got 11 chicks that are about to hatch on Wednesday. I also have two silkies, one male and female, who cannot find a place in the current flock. They're sweet, but the australorp pullets, which are not that much bigger, are really bossy and love to bully them around.
In another area, 14 chicks from various breeds bantam and standard get along just fine. I guess that would be because they are all younger then a week and have been introduced already. When I placed the 2 silkies in there, it was like a perfect fit. Both of them IMMEDIATELY started eating and drinking without fear, and better then that, they were not in the least bit aggressive towards any of the chicks. In a few days, they started "mothering" the chicks, are it's like they're the ones who have been raising them all along.
My question is, would it be okay to take the two silkies and place them with the newborns for a method of imprinting? Or should I Just place them by themselves?
The eggs are 8 RIR and red Sex links and 3 welsummers. I had 23 eggs, but those are the only ones which made it. I kept the rest of the eggs in the incubator, in case I was wrong..I just marked the ones which are doing well.
Just to be sure, when there is either a dark ring of matter in the egg, that's a dead egg right?
In another area, 14 chicks from various breeds bantam and standard get along just fine. I guess that would be because they are all younger then a week and have been introduced already. When I placed the 2 silkies in there, it was like a perfect fit. Both of them IMMEDIATELY started eating and drinking without fear, and better then that, they were not in the least bit aggressive towards any of the chicks. In a few days, they started "mothering" the chicks, are it's like they're the ones who have been raising them all along.
My question is, would it be okay to take the two silkies and place them with the newborns for a method of imprinting? Or should I Just place them by themselves?
The eggs are 8 RIR and red Sex links and 3 welsummers. I had 23 eggs, but those are the only ones which made it. I kept the rest of the eggs in the incubator, in case I was wrong..I just marked the ones which are doing well.
Just to be sure, when there is either a dark ring of matter in the egg, that's a dead egg right?
