Leaving a hen alone for a week?

[Jenergie]

Gary has a good suggestion...and you have a Silkie, remember?

Silkies generally LOVE to go broody. She will sooner or later. In that case, put some dud eggs under her (or you could get some fertile eggs if you are willing to deal with the roosters that could hatch). When it is the appropriate time, at least 2 weeks into her brood, but better if the full 3 weeks, put some day old chicks under her.

You avoid any isolation and she raises her next flock mates which means she will be top hen.

Silkies generally make really good mothers and foster well....but unless very experienced broodies, will need to be in a broody mood or they may harass and peck the chicks.

Or you could heat lamp brood the day olds in the house and integrate them with the Silkie at about 4 to 6 weeks of age, depending upon the personality of your Silkie girl.

I would not let them free range for a few weeks until flock order is settled and the youngers are old enough to be safe while ranging.

Doesn't solve the immediate problem as you don't want to introduce chicks now...but if you get lucky and she goes broody, you could set eggs within 21 days of your return date.

That would make easy care for your friend...just daily checking on momma and making sure she is eating/drinking/pooing at least once a day.

LofMc

Love this idea! There is no way to sex the day old chicks, right? So, the possibility of getting a few roosters is still there, right? If I am following everything correctly, best idea is to leave her alone and staying in the coop/run while I am gone for the week to minimize the predator risk. Then upon my return, begin to encourage her broodiness with regular unfertilized eggs for 3 weeks, then placing a few one-day old chicks under her to introduce?
I really love all of the collective help!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Love this idea! There is no way to sex the day old chicks, right? So, the possibility of getting a few roosters is still there, right? If I am following everything correctly, best idea is to leave her alone and staying in the coop/run while I am gone for the week to minimize the predator risk. Then upon my return, begin to encourage her broodiness with regular unfertilized eggs for 3 weeks, then placing a few one-day old chicks under her to introduce?
I really love all of the collective help!

Yes.
Step 1. Get the new coop/run predator proof up.
Step 2. Get her used to the new coop/run.
Step 3. Leave on your trip.
Step 4. On return, start placing dud eggs in her nest to see if, being a Silkie, she goes broody. Remember, You can't make a hen go broody. But Silkies *usually* are easy to entice (she may have gone broody by the time you get back being enclosed in a nest area for a week...hint...leave some dud eggs in the nest while you're gone...you may be surprised upon return).

After she has been in a definite brood for 3 weeks...and that means she sits in the nest pretty much 24/7, puffed up and growling if disturbed, getting up only once a day to eat/drink/poo, you've got a mother in waiting.

Then yes, get some day old chicks and place with her on week 3 of a good brood. You literally lift her tail and scoop the chicks (one at a time) under her tail, then let her settle. Most Silkies won't bat an eye at the chicks but glare at you for disturbing their brood and will cluck at the chicks as she settles. It is best to do this late afternoon so you can watch for the next hour or so but closer to dark so they will settle to stay with the hen.

Fostering can be a bit tricky. You need to place the chicks and watch in case the chicks don't get the idea. Usually the hen is willing but the incubator hatched chicks don't know what to do (being artificially hatched). You may have to keep replacing the chicks with the hen and block them so they can't wander away from her and the nest (and chill).

When you get to fostering, come back to the Broody Hen thread and we'll give you support there.

Good luck. Have a nice trip.
LofMc