Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

I had a question on broody hens and mothers. My idea is to gett a silkie and then give her some chicks to raise to start my flock. Would she need to be broody to accept the chicks? What kind of care do you give chicks when the mother is raising them? Should I wait until spring because of the cold?

yes she would need to be broody 1st. All you need to do is provide shelter, food and water. NO heat. Mama does all the work. It is probably best to wait until spring.

 

[ApplestoApples]

If I got a silky hen could I count on her to go broody for me? Or should I just use the broody method when I want to expand my flock?

 

[Lacy Blues]

Here are my new Sliver Laced Wyndotte 4 week old chicks.

Those are lovely little chickies! Thanks for sharing.

 

[farmer boy]

silkies are known to go broody a lot they can go broody a week after they started laying just depends on the hen i guess i only have 2 silkies two died so only a black hen and a grey roo i had them since 4 weeks old

 

[ApplestoApples]

I have decided to go the traditional method of raising chicks with a brooder and use the broody method when expanding my flock.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

I have decided to go the traditional method of raising chicks with a brooder and use the broody method when expanding my flock.

You could just get some older chicks that dont need a heat lamp.

 

[ApplestoApples]

You could just get some older chicks that dont need a heat lamp.

I am not worried about the heat lamp I am just looking at my options and planning.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

I am not worried about the heat lamp I am just looking at my options and planning.

Oh O.K just asking few questions.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I have decided to go the traditional method of raising chicks with a brooder and use the broody method when expanding my flock.

That's how I did it - I have two broodies (Silkie & Araucana) and both went broody after they started laying. The Silkie went broody within a month of laying her first eggs and the Araucana went broody a few months into her laying cycle. Both have had 3 clutches since the spring of this year.

It's not easy to know when a girl will go broody - but if you want to expand your flock by waiting until your Silkie goes broody that method works fine too. What I did was wait until she's gone broody (staying on her eggs in the nest all day and sitting on them at night instead of going to the roost). I would remove her eggs and give her ping pong balls each time and then once I confirm she's broody (3 days on the nest at night) I switch out the ping pong balls and give her fertilized eggs. She will sit on eggs until they hatch or don't hatch at approximately 21 days. I've extended my girls time to as much as 35 days. Making sure to give her scrambled eggs occassionally and taking her off the nest from time to time early on to eat & drink.

 

[stonykill]

for the record broody's are the traditional way and raising them by hand is the modern way