Integration question? (Silkie+babies)

[SCchickengal]

So, I have a small flock of 6 hens. 5 of them coexist peacefully but one silkie that was bought separately with a polish (that was killed by hawk) is constantly singled out. It’s been this way for months, as I think her Polish friend was killed in December. She is broody often as silkies are but we can’t have a rooster so her efforts are thwarted. Anyway, we’re currently raising 14 babies (5.5wks old) adjacent to the hen flock in a separate box, but they’ve had access to each other through wire for almost 2 weeks. It occurred to me today that maybe my silkie would be happier with the babies. Lately she’s been broody again, so I picked her up out of her nesting box and put her in with the babies earlier this afternoon in daylight. She didn’t puff up or act distressed, she just sat in the box and let them check her out. I was too scared to leave her though so I took her out. My husband put her back in around dusk/bedtime and I went back out there an hour later to a bunch of snuggled chickens. Lol I guess my question is… is this doable? Are the ages a problem? Is this a bad idea? We will end up keeping probably 3-4 of the pullet babies so my hope is that maybe she can form a new sub flock with these babies and not be picked on by the others when they are integrated back together….? Doable or no? Silkie is full fledged hen btw probably close to 2yrs old. Pic of snugglefest. It was really cute!

 

[Battlepants]

How long has she been broody? If she's to the point where the chicks would be hatching out (about 3 weeks), she might just latch onto these as her babies.

While 5.5 weeks is a bit old to be considered freshly hatched, those are old enough to run away/defend themselves. I would say as long as you provide a retreat where the babies can run away and hide, but momma can't fit, you would be fine to let her play momma for a bit. For this, I would provide a cat carrier with a clamp or doorstop (or similar) holding the door at just a large enough angle for the littles to get through.

 

[SCchickengal]

How long has she been broody? If she's to the point where the chicks would be hatching out (about 3 weeks), she might just latch onto these as her babies.

While 5.5 weeks is a bit old to be considered freshly hatched, those are old enough to run away/defend themselves. I would say as long as you provide a retreat where the babies can run away and hide, but momma can't fit, you would be fine to let her play momma for a bit. For this, I would provide a cat carrier with a clamp or doorstop (or similar) holding the door at just a large enough angle for the littles to get through.

Yes, actually she is somewhere around 3 weeks. I told my husband I wished I’d have thought of it sooner when she’d just started getting broody again. They would’ve only been around 2wks at the time, and I feel our silkie would’ve been in baby heaven. That’s a good idea, to have them a place to get away. The silkie is just the sweetest. I wasn’t there the day my husband and 5 year old bought the silkie and polish. At the time, I didn’t know that they don’t always mesh well with standards. Otherwise, I’d have told my 5 year old she couldn’t have the one with the silly hair. Lol Another question would be if I can ever count on her finding her place, since she’s the only silkie..? The pullet babies are also standards (Speckled Sussex, Wyandottes, Dark Brahmas, and a BBS cochin), so will they turn on her when they are bigger?