Newly hatched chicks put under a non-broody silkie?

[morelcabin]

Well if she starts after the chicks in a bad way he can always pull her out. Watch them for a while and see how they react

 

[joebryant]

Well, the proof is in the pudding.
I just five minutes ago took six newly hatched chicks out and put them next to my silkie hen. It's 32 degrees out, but I have a heat lamp in the silkies' coop just in case Victoria, the hen, would not accecpt them. She immediately spread her wings so that the little chicks could get under her.

AIN'T NUTTIN SWEETER'N MY LITTLE SILKIE HEN!

 

[crtrlovr]

Congrats on Victoria's acceptance of the new little ones. You can relax now; your sloth can remain intact.

tee hee!

ETA: btw, nice to see you ! Haven't run across you on here in quite some time. Hope Ms. Ann & the rest of the gang is fine!

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Thanks, crtrlovr, glad I could pass all that work off on to her. I love that little chicken. She doesn't take any guff off the twice-as-large Orpington hens when their paths cross. They don't mess with her. Yet she's super-smart and super affectionate. Anne and I can pick her up anytime we need to. She follows Anne like a puppy.

Anne? She's as mean to me as ever and still working me hard, but being the saint that I am...

Edit: I just went out to double check. Victoria is sitting in the coop with the chicks under her, and she looks like she's in seventh heaven. Silkies LOVE chicks.

Edit #2: Just went out to check again after about an hour. It's just too cute! The six-month-old splash chick (hen or rooster?) that she hatched herself is sitting right next to Victoria helping her warm the chickens. Who needs incubators and brooder boxes?