Should I add eggs or chicks to a flock of two silkies?

[DesertSilkieHen]

I have two 7 year old silkie hens whose sister just died of reproductive cancer. I would like to get 3-4 silkie chicks so that if one of my remaining hens dies, the other hen won't be all alone. My hens go broody very very easily but have never raised chicks or been around chickens from outside their flock. They both have calm temperaments.

What strategy would you recommend for a successful, stress-free introduction of new flock members and to limit the likelihood of disease transmission? Should I a) buy fertilized eggs and put them under a broody hen, b) buy very young chicks and slip them under a broody hen, or c) buy chicks, raise them indoors, and then introduce them when they're older?

I'm leaning towards options a and b because the hens go broody so often, I think they might like actually getting to raise chicks. But I'm not sure if that's a good idea given that my hens are older and don't have experience with chicks.

In all 3 scenarios I would of course monitor the chicks and the introduction closely.

 

[LizGio]

Try using the broody and find out?

 

[DesertSilkieHen]

So maybe try using a broody hen to hatch eggs and if that doesn't work, go with older chicks? I

Try using the broody and find out?

Thanks! Do you think adding eggs or baby chicks is more likely to be successful?

 

[Tonyroo]

A, sounds like a good course to take. My flock all came from hatching eggs.

 

[LizGio]

So maybe try using a broody hen to hatch eggs and if that doesn't work, go with older chicks? I

Thanks! Do you think adding eggs or baby chicks is more likely to be successful?

I'd let the hatch first, then chick if it doesn't work out.

 

[NatJ]

I have two 7 year old silkie hens whose sister just died of reproductive cancer. I would like to get 3-4 silkie chicks so that if one of my remaining hens dies, the other hen won't be all alone. My hens go broody very very easily but have never raised chicks or been around chickens from outside their flock. They both have calm temperaments.

What strategy would you recommend for a successful, stress-free introduction of new flock members and to limit the likelihood of disease transmission? Should I a) buy fertilized eggs and put them under a broody hen, b) buy very young chicks and slip them under a broody hen, or c) buy chicks, raise them indoors, and then introduce them when they're older?

I'm leaning towards options a and b because the hens go broody so often, I think they might like actually getting to raise chicks. But I'm not sure if that's a good idea given that my hens are older and don't have experience with chicks.

In all 3 scenarios I would of course monitor the chicks and the introduction closely.

If it were me, I would probably put some fake eggs in the nestboxes, wait until they go broody, and order chicks to arrive 3 weeks after that.

I would try to get the hens to adopt the chicks.
But if that does not work, I would brood the chicks next to the hens, probably with an arrangement similar to this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/

I don't have a local source of fertile eggs, and I've read that shipped eggs often have poor hatch rates, which is why I would buy chicks instead. But if you have a local source of fertile eggs, that might be a good choice for your situation.

As regards disease, I think it's usually considered safest to go with fertile eggs (from certain sources) or with day-old chicks shipped directly to you from a reputable hatchery.

 

[DesertSilkieHen]

A, sounds like a good course to take. My flock all came from hatching eggs.

Cool, thank you! I'll look into buying some fertilized silkie eggs for my girls to sit on. I don't anticipate having any problem getting them to go broody in the days before the eggs arrive haha--- they go broody at the drop of a hat

 

[DesertSilkieHen]

If it were me, I would probably put some fake eggs in the nestboxes, wait until they go broody, and order chicks to arrive 3 weeks after that.

I would try to get the hens to adopt the chicks.
But if that does not work, I would brood the chicks next to the hens, probably with an arrangement similar to this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/

I don't have a local source of fertile eggs, and I've read that shipped eggs often have poor hatch rates, which is why I would buy chicks instead. But if you have a local source of fertile eggs, that might be a good choice for your situation.

As regards disease, I think it's usually considered safest to go with fertile eggs (from certain sources) or with day-old chicks shipped directly to you from a reputable hatchery.

Thanks! I've seen a few silkie breeders in southern Arizona so I'll see if I can get eggs from them rather than ordering ones that are shipped across the country.

The brooder and integration setup is really good idea. If the hens don't take to being mommas, I'll put something like that together.

 

[DesertSilkieHen]

I just found a silkie breeder who will sell me some fertilized eggs! Excited to let my girls try to hatch them.

(Edited bc my first attempt at finding a breeder was unsuccessful and I posted a follow-up question that's no longer relevant)