Minnesota!

[newpioneer75]

Thanks, we did decide to keep them and we went out and got a buff maran and a barred rock to keep them company. Now I'm a little nervous about tonight. We have a broody silkie in the nest and 1 silkie all alone with 2 nervous new birds. I'm sure they will be fine but still a little weirded out by what happened today. Still looking to get 2 more. I'll probably be calling soon minniechickmama. Thank You.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Sounds good. I think they will all be fine as long as the other two don't have an aggressive streak in them. Let me know soon if you need a couple more.

 

[Triplell]

I am so glad that you found the lost hen. Just keep an eye on the new additions with your single hen. I am also glad to hear that the owner of the dog was nice to you after what their dog did. Lets hope they keep their dog under control for now on.

 

[newpioneer75]

Sadly, I don't think I will let them free range for quite a while. At least not if I'm not outside too. So far so good with the new girls getting acquainted. Actually my buff Silkie was trying to show her authority and being aggressive at first, so I had to separate for a little longer. Seems ok now. Now I just need to knock the broody out of the black silkie, its going on 2 weeks now. Anybody recomend the water dunk method ? Or is the wire cage better ? How long in the cage ? thx

 

[mnhomestead]

I did the wire cage method to break several broodies this spring/summer. I think every hen varies, but 4-7 days in the broody buster was my average. I would watch their demeanor and after 4 days would let them out and watch them for a bit; if they ran to the nest boxes and were still 'snippy' they went right back in for a couple more days, if they wanted to go out and free range I'd let them stay out and just check on them a while later to be sure they didn't trick me.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

My broody buster is the wire cage, in the garage with a light on all night. I think that light redirects the hormones to egg laying again which cessates the broody hormones. Just things I've read and tried. I've had success on 2-3 days broody busting this way. Of course lots of treats are always involved with broody bustin' and walks with the flock in the grass to lay golf ball sized broody poos...and peeling off of nests shortly after to return to broody jail for another day.

 

[dipsychicks]

hello all! still relatively new to this site and figuring my way around...went straight to the most recent post here and see something about a broody silkie! we have a silkie hen that we adopted/rescued in april this year. she went broody and we had no roo so we bought some fertilized eggs from someone local. she sat on 6 and hatched 3. hoping they were all hens...we are now thinking one to be a roo anyway back to mama silkie, her name is "dipsy" she is broody again. she's been laying eggs the last couple weeks and we've taken them away everyday. i don't know much about being broody so, is it bad to just let her hide in her box? we usually go to the coop each night and sit with them and feed treats and snuggle some. this afternoon she did not come out of her box for treats. is this something i need to intervene with? thanks for any advice.

 

[dipsychicks]

Egg|Plant is where I got my chickens from. They are great and really patient with my endless, clueless questions!

i bought my 2 silver laced wyandottes there this summer! went to visit my friend in st paul and she lives about 6 blocks from there. we walked in saw the last 2 little chicks and i scooped em up! they perched on my shoulders part way home to fergus falls!

 

[sn0wwhite]

Fantastic!
Were they both hens? My SLW turned out to be a rooster, but so far he is really sweet and no crowing.

 

[newpioneer75]

I too recommend to everyone living in the Twin Cities area, or visiting St. Paul. Go check out Egg|Plant !!! It is the coolest little Backyard chicken and gardening store I've seen. They are the only place that I can always find organic feed.