Is it possible my hen thinks another hen is her chick?

[Anastatia_S]

Last week my salmon faverolle got broody, we managed to snap her out of it after a few days and since then she’s been her normal self. But I have noticed the past few nights when locking the girls up, that she and her silkie sister have been sleeping on the floor instead of the roosts. Hennifer (the faverolle) has been sort of tucking Chickpea (the silkie) under her wing as if she was a chick. Is it possible that Hennifer somehow thinks Chickpea is her chick? She’s only been doing it to Chickpea and not our other hen.

 

[sourland]

Perhaps. The mothering instinct can be quite strong.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Perhaps. The mothering instinct can be quite strong.

2x

Also, is your Silkie feeling well? Has it been cooler at nights for them?

I used to have a mothering hen and she always had adult hens under her during the winter. Everyone was fine, they just discovered that big ol' Nalla was mighty toasty under. Everyone was fine. And Nalla never went broody, she just had a thing for adopting older chicks.

 

[Chicalina]

omg that is so adorable!