Is she actually mothering them?

[aart]

Have you ever seen anything like this before?

Not really...but never had a situation where there was 1 older chick with 4 younger ones......and never had a silkie.
They tend to be broody little beasts tho, so I've read, so she may be one of those.

 

[HuffleClaw]

Not really...but never had a situation where there was 1 older chick with 4 younger ones......and never had a silkie.
They tend to be broody little beasts tho, so I've read, so she may be one of those.

I guess she’s trying her best to take care of them. I assume she’s getting her broodiness started early on, even though she’s technically too young

 

[micstrachan]

SUPER adorable! Well, looks like you've got yourself a broody. I have a friend whose silkie wants to sit on eggs all the time. She will hang out in the coop all by herself and is not happy until my friend brings her chicks to raise! Maybe your girl will be your reliable broody for years!

 

[HuffleClaw]

SUPER adorable! Well, looks like you've got yourself a broody. I have a friend whose silkie wants to sit on eggs all the time. She will hang out in the coop all by herself and is not happy until my friend brings her chicks to raise! Maybe your girl will be your reliable broody for years!

Thank you! I hope she’s a good future (and I guess present!) broody.

 

[HuffleClaw]

She has put her 'kids' to bed for tonight already. It was chilly today so I didn’t let them go outside any. Tomorrow should be warm so they will get to visit outside again.

 

[Eggscaping]

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

This story, along with the pictures, made me go "Awwwww!" How cute!!
But I've read that you can't keep silkies in a regular, mixed flock since their differences gets them picked on. Is that so? If we plan to hatch eggs it would be very cool to have a broody to do that - I just read the article on 'Hatching eggs for newbies' and my god...all the things you have to do! Temperature, humidity, marking the air sac. Very intimidating. So I'd rather have a chicken who wants to do it. Are there any people out there who have silkies mixed with other breeds of chickens?

 

[HuffleClaw]

This story, along with the pictures, made me go "Awwwww!" How cute!!
But I've read that you can't keep silkies in a regular, mixed flock since their differences gets them picked on. Is that so? If we plan to hatch eggs it would be very cool to have a broody to do that - I just read the article on 'Hatching eggs for newbies' and my god...all the things you have to do! Temperature, humidity, marking the air sac. Very intimidating. So I'd rather have a chicken who wants to do it. Are there any people out there who have silkies mixed with other breeds of chickens?

I keep my 3 silkies with other breeds, without a problem! So does @WhoDatChick. Silkies are broody little birds, I guess. And thank you, I think it’s pretty cute, too. Incubation is interesting, too.

 

[WhoDatChick]

This story, along with the pictures, made me go "Awwwww!" How cute!!
But I've read that you can't keep silkies in a regular, mixed flock since their differences gets them picked on. Is that so? If we plan to hatch eggs it would be very cool to have a broody to do that - I just read the article on 'Hatching eggs for newbies' and my god...all the things you have to do! Temperature, humidity, marking the air sac. Very intimidating. So I'd rather have a chicken who wants to do it. Are there any people out there who have silkies mixed with other breeds of chickens?

Oh, my Silkie is probably second in command in a flock with only one Silkie and 7 big gals... she chases them around and pulls their feathers screaming!! She has no problem and never has!

 

[WhoDatChick]

Kayla.. you know the “bully” EE chick that I rehomed just a couple of weeks ago? Well the girl I gave it to put it in with her day olds and it appears that it’s doing the same thing yours is doing.. she sent me this pic the next day.. she also said the same thing you did.. “I’ve never seen anything like this!”

 

[HuffleClaw]

Kayla.. you know the “bully” EE chick that I rehomed just a couple of weeks ago? Well the girl I gave it to put it in with her day olds and it appears that it’s doing the same thing yours is doing.. she sent me this pic the next day.. she also said the same thing you did.. “I’ve never seen anything like this!” View attachment 1721982View attachment 1721983

whoa