I've got two broody Silkie/Polish crosses that I gave eggs from my big hens to hatch. So the big day came when the first 2 hatched and then Coco went mama mode. I have moved Coco into a separate section of the coop with the chicks. Gucci could care less about a chick crying next to her and only cares about the eggs. She lets the chicks be under her but she doesn't talk to them at all as far as I have seen. Once they dry off after staying warm under her, I move them over to Coco and the other chicks. Chick number 6 is in the middle of hatching under Gucci and then there is one more egg to go.
So here is my question, if Gucci doesn't care about the chicks and only wants to incubate eggs, should I just give her more eggs? How long should I let her be broody for? I'd assume it's not healthy to let her stay broody for extended lengths of time with her only leaving the nest a couple times a day? I don't mind just putting fake eggs under her and then swapping them out for real ones when I'm ready for more chicks but I don't want to do that if it's bad for her in the long run. Suggestions please?
For those wondering about the names: I got fancy chickens so I gave them fancy names to match: Coco Chanel (aka Coco), Gucci and Prada (my polish hen who is not broody).
I think this is more of a behavior question so I hope this is the correct section.
Sorry if I added too much extra info; thanks for any advice!
So here is my question, if Gucci doesn't care about the chicks and only wants to incubate eggs, should I just give her more eggs? How long should I let her be broody for? I'd assume it's not healthy to let her stay broody for extended lengths of time with her only leaving the nest a couple times a day? I don't mind just putting fake eggs under her and then swapping them out for real ones when I'm ready for more chicks but I don't want to do that if it's bad for her in the long run. Suggestions please?
For those wondering about the names: I got fancy chickens so I gave them fancy names to match: Coco Chanel (aka Coco), Gucci and Prada (my polish hen who is not broody).
I think this is more of a behavior question so I hope this is the correct section.
Sorry if I added too much extra info; thanks for any advice!