Silkie Brooding for Months

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I don't have an answer but my first encounter with silkies and brooding and baby chicks. I don't know what to do. i totally believe in letting nature take her course and yet don't want to lose my hen. there are three baby chicks now and how long will she set without getting up? she was getting up every day but when the chicks hatched she stayed in a zone. im worried about the chicks eating too. what to do? how long supposed to set? she's been at it a month and a half. i need advice and I'm not mother nature. not even close.
 
My Silkie (who I rescued from an office parking lot 7 weeks ago) became Broody 48 hours ago. I take her out of the coop every few hours to eat & drink, and 10 min later, she's back in her box. These posts are helpful, and I think I'm going to take her out again and shut the door until it's her bedtime. Better she get frustrated now that have health problems later....

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Did your Silkie snap out of her broodiness yet? Mine is on day 24. I make her get up and walk around several times a day, and discovered she loves diced tomatoes. She won't get up on her own though, and I'm going out of town on business for 3 days. My son will come check on her, but I am worried... Did you find a trick that worked for yours?


fuzzylonghairba said:
I don't have an answer but my first encounter with silkies and brooding and baby chicks. I don't know what to do. i totally believe in letting nature take her course and yet don't want to lose my hen. there are three baby chicks now and how long will she set without getting up? she was getting up every day but when the chicks hatched she stayed in a zone. im worried about the chicks eating too. what to do? how long supposed to set? she's been at it a month and a half. i need advice and I'm not mother nature. not even close.
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Hi and yes, a few days later they began to hatch. Nature is the only way to have things. There were about 10. Now some months later there are four viable, three hens and one rooster. So cute teenage type chickens. They are skittish and not as friendly as the grown birds. I'd had placed them but since this is a garden home and they are free range, I didn't have the heart to take them from the mother as it was her first brood and they were so tiny (and cute). So yesterday, a hen that had vanished a month ago showed up surprisingly and brought out about 15 baby chicks with her. My total silky herd is about 24 and another hen is sitting on 23 eggs. I just don't see where those eggs came from. I will have some for sale but I'm in Northern Nevada and don't want to mail them. I can't find anyone here who sells them, such as a feed store but want to make sure they won't be eaten, left for their own devices or suffer at the hands of an irresponsible person. I had two guppies at the beginning of the year and now I have hundreds. I hope the silky situation doesn't get that bad. Anyway they are predominantly white with speckles. If anyone wants to start a silky ranch, get in touch with me. I might be up for a short road trip and meet you half-way. Happy Trails to all! and thanks so much for all the advice and sympathy.
 
What I also did was provide fresh water bowl and a large platter with chick starter and some wild bird food (fats from sunflower seeds, etc.) Every chicken is fine, healthy and sweet as they can be. These chickens are pets, not just eggers or bug eaters. I just love them. I was ready for the falcon or chicken hawks to get them but nothing has happened so far. Thanks everyone for your kind remarks and helpful suggestions. I just love this site.
 
I have to post a "laugh" that you rescued her from an office parking lot. She must have known anything was better than wherever she was and it is heartwarming to hear you love her and care for her as well. Best wishes and happy trails
 
I'll suggest that you put fresh water and feed near her but let her decide when to get up. They seem to know when they should get up and what temperature the eggs are. I also heard that if the temp of the ambient air is at least 55 degrees, the eggs should be fine for a few minutes (no more). Good luck!
 

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