Just wanted to share this quick photo. I have two Catdance Silkies that decided to go broody together. Lucille, the lavender was born last May and Priscilla, the porcelain was born in June.
I had gotten them some eggs (we don't have a roo) but none were developing so in the meantime I had a few Wheaten Ameraucana eggs in the incubator. The last of the 4 hatched yesterday so I brought them out to the broodys who clucked happily trying to herd those little chicks underneath them.
I checked again this morning and all chicks were contentedly resting under their adoptive moms! Lucille and Priscilla seem to be doing a great job co-parenting their new charges.
The pic just shows one curious baby - it's siblings were tucked safely away under the fluff!
Just wanted to share this quick photo. I have two Catdance Silkies that decided to go broody together. Lucille, the lavender was born last May and Priscilla, the porcelain was born in June.
I had gotten them some eggs (we don't have a roo) but none were developing so in the meantime I had a few Wheaten Ameraucana eggs in the incubator. The last of the 4 hatched yesterday so I brought them out to the broodys who clucked happily trying to herd those little chicks underneath them.
I checked again this morning and all chicks were contentedly resting under their adoptive moms! Lucille and Priscilla seem to be doing a great job co-parenting their new charges.
The pic just shows one curious baby - it's siblings were tucked safely away under the fluff!
I think it's common for any chicken who just begins laying. For example, here's a rundown of my white silkie and my EE for the first 18 days after starting to lay...
Day 1: Silkie (first egg)
Day 2: Silkie
Day 3: 0
Day 4: EE (first egg)
Day 5: 0
Day 6: EE
Day 7: Silkie
Day 8: Silkie
Day 9: EE
Day 10: Silkie
Day 11: EE
Day 12: Silkie & EE
Day 13: Silkie & EE
Day 14: Silkie
Day 15: 0
Day 16: Silkie & EE
Day 17: 0
Day 18: Silkie (soft-shelled)
Iris is broody! I'm not totally happy about it because she is a nice breeding hen. She has now committed to being broody, but only while in with her flock. I have tried isolating her previously and she abandoned the eggs. This time, I am not going to be fussy about where she decides to set on the eggs. I gave her 4 eggs this morning, I checked the nests about 1/2hr ago....now Iris is setting on 8 eggs.....What a little egg thief! I guess she talked to other hens into donating to her cause...
Iris is broody! I'm not totally happy about it because she is a nice breeding hen. She has now committed to being broody, but only while in with her flock. I have tried isolating her previously and she abandoned the eggs. This time, I am not going to be fussy about where she decides to set on the eggs. I gave her 4 eggs this morning, I checked the nests about 1/2hr ago....now Iris is setting on 8 eggs.....What a little egg thief! I guess she talked to other hens into donating to her cause...
I have 6 blue, 4 red, 4 white, 4 lavender silkies. that are 2 weeks old now. my ? is this I want to build breeding pens out of rabbit wire. is 24 inch high enough? or should I go 36. and how long and wide should i make them for 6 birds?
