Silkie thread!

[JesNflock]

I have a white silkie hen not even a year old yet born this past spring that went broody 3 days ago and it's cold and snowy here in Ohio so I can't wait to see how her first clutch goes and my first winter broody

Awww...so cute. Do you find that Silkies prefer low nesting to higher ones?

 

[chicken farmer]

Awww...so cute. Do you find that Silkies prefer low nesting to higher ones?

Personally so far mine will only nest low like I have 4 nestboxes about a foot or so off the coop ground and my first silkie hen prefered to lay in the corner on the ground of the coop,I think it's because they like to go broody and they no the chicks have to be lower or they aren't as flightly

 

[JesNflock]

I know that going broody is a hormonal thing, but I was wondering if anyone has had a Silkie go broody before actually hatching her first egg? Or does she have to lay first to trigger the hormones that signal the broodiness? (If mine turn out to be girls, I have a long way to go before they are even close but was curious about it)

 

[chicken farmer]

I know that going broody is a hormonal thing, but I was wondering if anyone has had a Silkie go broody before actually hatching her first egg? Or does she have to lay first to trigger the hormones that signal the broodiness? (If mine turn out to be girls, I have a long way to go before they are even close but was curious about it)

I'm not to sure I guess it's just the hen,but like I said she isn't a year old yet but has been laying for about a month only and is already broody and she might have 2-3 more broods of chicks this summer if I let her and she would probably go year round hatch after hatch if I let her but of course that wouldnt be heathy and like I said I'm sure it's all about the hen when she goes broody but goodluck with your youngsters and I will keep you posted with her and on her hatch day if you would like

 

[JesNflock]

Personally so far mine will only nest low like I have 4 nestboxes about a foot or so off the coop ground and my first silkie hen prefered to lay in the corner on the ground of the coop,I think it's because they like to go broody and they no the chicks have to be lower or they aren't as flightly

Makes sense to me...I'm glad to hear that because I decided to go with vertical nest boxes, instead of the horizontal nest box condo (I had broodies in mind, but wasn't sure it would actually work out that way) I think my lowest is about 6 inches from the floor...I'm hoping to get some good use out of it with my Silkies should they decide to be girls. lol

 

[chicken farmer]

Makes sense to me...I'm glad to hear that because I decided to go with vertical nest boxes, instead of the horizontal nest box condo (I had broodies in mind, but wasn't sure it would actually work out that way) I think my lowest is about 6 inches from the floor...I'm hoping to get some good use out of it with my Silkies should they decide to be girls. lol

I've seen silkies go broody in high nests before like on youtube they all must have different feeling about things

 

[PaintedFeathers]

My new silkie/silkie mix chicks =D

 

[JesNflock]

I'm not to sure I guess it's just the hen,but like I said she isn't a year old yet but has been laying for about a month only and is already broody and she might have 2-3 more broods of chicks this summer if I let her and she would probably go year round hatch after hatch if I let her but of course that wouldnt be heathy and like I said I'm sure it's all about the hen when she goes broody but goodluck with your youngsters and I will keep you posted with her and on her hatch day if you would like

Yes that would be awesome! I got Silkies because of their broodiness factor (I have other that are already laying and would like to try out hatching some of their eggs with the Silkie) not to mention I just think they are adorable and had to have one in my flock lol

 

[chicken farmer]

Here's my first silkie hen I bought 2012 fall as an adult and she has gone broody this past spring and she had 3 little silkie chicks she laid the eggs and her and her buff silkie rooster took care of them it was so sweet she had a buff silkie rooster,partridge silkie rooster,and a white silkie hen(not the one broody) and she tryed to go broody again at the end of summer but I didn't let her since It was gonna get colder but this year I'm trying a winter broody

 

[JesNflock]

I've seen silkies go broody in high nests before like on youtube they all must have different feeling about things

I bet they do...kinda like they all do this or that unless they are the exception then they do it totally different(I'm finding there are lots of "rules" with chickens but that many of them don't always follow "the rules" lol