Is she actually mothering them?

[HuffleClaw]

I got 5 Satin silkie Chicks on Friday. 4 of them are about 1 week old, and the other is maybe 3-4 weeks old. The older one actually thinks they’re her babies She will chirp and lead them to the food/water, etc. she’ll even lay on top of them like a broody hen would. Is it possible she really thinks these chicks are her responsibility? I have a brooder set up, I was going to put her outside with some of the Old English Game Bantam pullets that I hatch that’re about her size, but she gets really stressed out without the 4 younger chicks. I have made sure half the brooder is warm, and the other half is room temperature.
Pictures:

Here you can see her poofing up and laying on them to 'keep them warm'~

Showing them where the goodies are outdoors:

Thank you,
Kayla

 

[NNYchick]

Anything is possible with Silkies. All they want to do is parent. I had a similar thing when I got my Silkies I had a cockerel that was slightly older and larger. All the littles would eat with him and snuggle him.
Just wondering by any chance did you get the satin from Melissa in Alabama. I hatched eggs from her last year and had a one that looked just like your.

 

[HuffleClaw]

Anything is possible with Silkies. All they want to do is parent. I had a similar thing when I got my Silkies I had a cockerel that was slightly older and larger. All the littles would eat with him and snuggle him.
Just wondering by any chance did you get the satin from Melissa in Alabama. I hatched eggs from her last year and had a one that looked just like your.

I’m glad it’s pretty normal then. I got these at an auction for $1, no one else wanted them and I wasn’t gonna leave them there. Although I did get 3 silkies from her a while back, all were cockerels so I only kept one.

 

[NNYchick]

Wow lucky you. I paid a lot of money for the eggs just to get some gray satins like her I got one but I lost her. She was sweet. I did keep a cockerel from that hatch too.

 

[HuffleClaw]

Wow lucky you. I paid a lot of money for the eggs just to get some gray satins like her I got one but I lost her. She was sweet. I did keep a cockerel from that hatch too. View attachment 1721209View attachment 1721211 View attachment 1721210

 

[Cadence A Waller]

I got 5 Satin silkie Chicks on Friday. 4 of them are about 1 week old, and the other is maybe 3-4 weeks old. The older one actually thinks they’re her babies She will chirp and lead them to the food/water, etc. she’ll even lay on top of them like a broody hen would. Is it possible she really thinks these chicks are her responsibility? I have a brooder set up, I was going to put her outside with some of the Old English Game Bantam pullets that I hatch that’re about her size, but she gets really stressed out without the 4 younger chicks. I have made sure half the brooder is warm, and the other half is room temperature.
Pictures:
View attachment 1721188

Here you can see her poofing up and laying on them to 'keep them warm'~
View attachment 1721190

Showing them where the goodies are outdoors:
View attachment 1721191 View attachment 1721192 View attachment 1721193

Thank you,
Kayla

That is super cool!! Silkies are great!

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

That's precious. Looks like she's getting an early start at being a mom.

 

[HuffleClaw]

That's precious. Looks like she's getting an early start at being a mom.

She’s a very docile chick who loves her... chicks! She’ll lead them around and they follow her, they just know she’s the proud momma.

 

[HuffleClaw]

That is super cool!! Silkies are great!

Thanks! Silkies are definitely one of my favorite breeds.

 

[HuffleClaw]

@aart, to me you’re pretty experienced. Have you ever seen anything like this before?