Mama and chickie questions!

[nuttyredhead]

Mama Silkie is not sharing those babies! From everything I have read she will stay with them for 6 -9 weeks? Will she keep them warm for that time too?

I was a little concered because it is very cold here and she is in the coop (no heat). They were all there squirming around this morning under mama and it is 10 outside and 25 in the coop, so she is doing her job well.

So how long till they start moving out from under her to eat? I have the food/water about 1-2 feet away from mama. Will they leave her warmth to eat? This is all so dofferent from the weeks olds that lived in my bathroom!!!!

Thanks for putting up with all my questions!!!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

They can easily go three days without food and water. I don't remember your exact hatch times but you should be OK there.

Some of the chicks may be adventurous and wander over on their own, but what I expect would happen is that when Mama decides it is time, she will get off the nest and take them over to the food and water and show them how to eat and drink. She has a special sound that says, "Here is food. Eat!"

I have not had a broody hatch in those temperatures, so I don't have that part of the experience. I expect they will stick pretty close to Mama until they are about three days old, then they will get out and about more. That's based on what I've seen with broodies and in the brooder. When I put mine in the brooder, they tend to stick close to the heat lamp for a day or two, but by the third day, they are all over the brooder, even in the areas 20 degrees below the recommended tempteratures. Chicks under broodies seem to get more adventurous about the same age.

Mama really does not need to keep them warm after they feather out, which is usually around 4 to 5 weeks of age. A lot of broodies wean their chicks then, but I have had broodies that stick with their broods for 9 weeks, even in warm weather. There is no telling how long she will care for them.

 

[nuttyredhead]

Quote:
Thank you!!!