Silkie Acting Strange

[EdmondNative]

We have two white Silkies that we've had since winter (Fed.). I'm pretty certain one is male and the other female - even though they were sold to us as both female. They, along with 6 other regular hens (sorry don't know their breed), roam free on our 2.5 acres (and our neighbors). We have a coop we put the birds in at night for safety.

The silkies have never been found of the coop - even when it was suggested we put a nesting box on the ground inside the coop so they don't have to go inside the enclosed main coop.

Usually they simply go to some high grass very near the coop and want to stay there over night. Sometimes we'd let them and sometimes we'd move them inside the coop (mostly when our motion sensors and security cameras showed evidence of predators like a fox or coyote).

Then a couple of months ago one silkie started nesting on the other side of our house underneath a bush. Every few days she'd produce an egg. Other than that she'd come and go from the nest at her leisure.

However, about a month ago she stopped laying any eggs and refuses to leave the nest area. I mean absolutely refuses - doesn't come out for food or water.

I could tell she was losing weight so I started taking her off the nest and back by the coop where the food and water is. She'd eat and drink just fine and walk around. But about 10 minutes later she runs for her nest and sits there again and will not leave unless I physically move her.

Her white coat is now more of a dirty yellow.

I fear she will loose strength and eventual fall ill and die.

Anyone ever experience this or know how to snap her out of it?

I'm afraid if i simply block her nesting area she'll pick a new one and I won't be able to find her or get to her.

Any ideas?

 

[bauerdog]

She sounds like she is brooding. She is trying to hatch babies. It takes three weeks to hatch. So you may have chicks soon

 

[Odelia]

She is broody which means she wants to hatch a clutch of eggs. Silkies are a VERY broody breed. You could either let her do so and when the eggs hatch she will leave the nest to take care of the chicks. You could remove the eggs under her and slip some newly hatched chicks from a breed you want under her at night and she will think they are hers and care for the chicks. Or you can read some threads on breaking you girl of her broody behavior. Good luck.

 

[EdmondNative]

Odd thing is, when she was actually laying eggs she never seems to care to stay in the nest. As soon as she stopped laying eggs she now won't leave it.

There are no eggs under her and she hasn't laid in a month.

I'd like to just break her of the habit.

 

[Odelia]

When they go broody they stop laying. I imagine you took the eggs she had laid otherwise she would be sitting on those. This isn't odd behavior. My bantam cochin is doing the exact same thing. If you want her off of the nest give her some chicks to raise or try one of the methods of breaking broodiness. As she is a Silkie expect to deal with this behavior often.

 

[EdmondNative]

Good to know. We are new to this whole chicken thing. Th regular hens just do their thing (lay eggs and walk around the yard). Never dealt with a Silkie and brooding habits.

I'm going to try putting her in a wire cage for a day and see if that helps.

Thanks!