Q: about mom's and babies

[spencer creek]

My Silkie hen's chicks are now almost 2 months old. They are in my pole barn with mom and no lamp. I have another incubated batch in the garage brooder still that is almost 3 months.

#1- If I pull my 2 month old chicks from their mom and put them with the others similar in size will my hen start to lay eggs sooner?

#2- My 3 month olds(in brooder). When can they go out in the pole barn overnight without a lamp? They are pretty close to being grown-up's and spend the day out there but at dusk they huddle in a pile. There are 4, I am in MI. It's been about 35-40 at night.

Thanks

 

[debilorrah]

#1 - I am not sure that taking them makes the egglaying start any faster - I took chicks from my broody 2 weeks ago and she still hasn't layed one yet

#2 - they can go out with no lamp once they are fully feather, no more tufts of down - makes sure to check them all over, but they should be pretty darned close to being fully feathered at 12-13 weeks.