Silkie hen bad mother!

[speedabug]

My silkie hen just hatched out a baby Japenaese chick. The only thing she likes to do is sit on the eggs. After the chick hatches she has nothing to do with it. Should I take it away from her if I dont the chick will die. If I do want the chick be lonely. Any advice will help. I just want the best for the chick.

 

[Chicken Ninja]

If it were me, I'd try finding a home for the new chick. That's too bad that she won't raise it as her own. It would be very unhappy being raised by itself, seeing how chickens are such social animals, so the best thing you can do is try and find a good home for it.

If you can't find a home, living for a while alone, then joining the flock is much better then being killed. So, either way I wouldn't kill it, but best case scenario you find a home for this lil' one.

Hope that helps

 

[speedabug]

Thanks I would never kill the little fellow he is so cute. I have had other chicks and the seem to get along fine. I just took the other egg from the silkie too. If she doesnt want to raise it she doesnt deserve to sit any longer I think.

 

[warmwater]

Hi, I don't think you should have taken the unhatched egg from your Silkie...it will die - unless you put it in an incubator. As for the other chick, you will have to keep it in the house under a light with food and water until it gets older/bigger then it can go in with the other chickens you have. If you can, you should see if you can purchase another chick (from TSC or a feed store) to keep it company...they don't like to be alone. People on this site say you can get a stuff toy or put a mirror in with it if you can't find another little chick. Hope this helps.

 

[Sitka]

Do I understand correctly that 1 chick has hatched but she is still sitting on the other eggs? In my experience the hen will not leave the nest until all the eggs hatch, and the ones that hatch early and get out from under her can explore and get into trouble. But if it can stay near her and out of trouble, leave it be. It will not need food or water for 3 days because of having absorbed the yolk, and by then the other eggs will have hatched. I hope I understood your question.

 

[speedabug]

Thanks for everyones help. I later found out that day that one of my hens have been sitting outside the pen. We had thought that the neighborhood cat gotten had got to her. We found her with 2 chicks and I wasnt going to take any chance with the japanese chicks life so I gave it to her. She loves it and now is living happy with her.