Lone Silkie Bantam. How to give her a flock.

[i do it for the bantams]

I have a woman wanting to create a flock. Currently she has 1 silkie broody hen. The others were taken by a hawk. Should we introduce baby chicks about 2 weeks old or should we let her hatch her own babies with fertilized eggs? What would be a better bonding experience for her?

 

[i do it for the bantams]

To add she is currently sitting on dummy eggs and is doing great on them. Staying on them for a great deal of time and only leaving on occasion to eat and drink.

 

[JaeG]

I'd let her hatch her own or give her chicks less than 2 days old once she's been sitting about 21 days. 2 weeks old is too old for chicks to recognise her as a mother hen and she will view them as intruders (most likely, though occasionally maternal instincts take over).

 

[i do it for the bantams]

How many eggs is appropriate for Abrams to sit on. Is 6-8 too many

 

[i do it for the bantams]

Appropriate not abrams**

 

[i do it for the bantams]

I meant bantams need where is my spelling

 

[JaeG]

If they are bantam eggs 6-8 eggs should fit under her just fine. Not sure about large fowl eggs. I think the rule is as long as you can't see any eggs sticking out from under her then that's a good number. I love broody mother hens looking after their babies. It's so cute!