Need help, broody hen & fostering chicks

[Chicken Lil]

I really need some advice on what to do with my new chicks and a broody silkie. Here is what is going on.

My silkie has been broody for four weeks now, completely monopolizing one nesting box, not laying eggs, barely eating, and definetly very broody.

Today I recieved my shipment of 4 chicks. All were healthy and peeping to all get out. I made sure they had some food and water, and kept them warm, and once all the other hens were out of the hen house I slipped them under Miss broody. Seemed to go well, and an hour later they were all tucked away comfortably under the hen who seemed to be clucking to them.

So far so good, but than it came time for me to move them all out of the hen house, as I don't trust the other girls with these babies. Also the hen house will be to cold for them tonight. I scooped them all up in the box liner, hen and all and moved them to the set up I have in the garage. The hen fussed over them, than ate, and walked away from the chicks. Occassionally one of them would tuck under her and she did not seem to mind. Than she tried to get out of the enclosure, and about a half hour after that she started pecking the chicks really hard and chasing them. She actually flung one a few inches. Well I took her out and put her back in the hen house (the chicks were all okay). She immediatley went back to the nesting box, and she hasn't moved since.

Now what? Should I ty to slip them under her tonight, and than stay up watching to make sure they are okay? Or should I just hand raise them?

I don't know what happened or what to do. Please any advice is welcome.

 

[grandmachicken]

OMG, I just posted a new message about this very topic! I was thinking about doing the same thing to help my broody hen snap out of it! I'll be watching to see what the eggs-perts

have to say.

I hope you don't have to hand raise them; I just finished with a batch of 3 week old chicks and, I have to say, I am very happy to have them out of the house. 4 won't be difficult though. Good luck whatever happens!

Christi

 

[Chicken Lil]

Hi Grandma Chicken,

I am so surprised by my broody reaction, I really did not expect this to happen. I saw your post and I had asked the same thing a couple of weeks back. Everyone said it should work.

I don't know if it was because I moved them or what? but if she won't take them, and she won't stop being broody than she will end up on the dinner table.

I'm so frustrated!