Silkie thread!

[chickenmomma16]

As I am contemplating my 2018 hatching season, I find myself thinking of ways to make it as easy as possible for me to raise my Ameraucana chicks with the added responsibility of a new baby. Last year, I set about 60 Wheaten Ameraucana eggs and ONE (1) Wheaten cockerel hatched who I later decided to re-home. Five of those eggs started to develop but only the one hatched and he was 2 days late and barely made it his first 24hours. All of my EE eggs set, hatched on time and were robust chicks.

So I’m kicking around the idea of employing a few Silkie hens due to their reputation going broody often and being good mothers. I’d like to hear from people who raise them if this would be a good investment. I’m thinking about 4-5 Silkie hens to hatch and raise chicks as often as they’d like. They’d have their own portioned off area and covered run away from my LF. I think they would have better luck than my incubator hatching these Ameraucana eggs. I’ve always used Broodies in the past and I enjoy it much better than hatching and raising them myself.

How many times a year would you say a Silkie goes broody? I’m assuming if I’m looking for Silkie hens that I want to go broody I’d have to buy from a private breeder and not a hatchery. Are there certain varieties that are known to go broody more often?

Thanks in advance!

 

[NNYchick]

Yes I can say Silkies are broody motto is if it fits we sit. I currently have one that went broody approximately 3 weeks after laying her first egg. I keep breaking her and she will lay a few eggs again then go broody. A couple things to think about with silkies- if you go straight run chicks they difficult to sex usually unable to know for sure till they lay or crow so plan a 6-8 month growout. Hens/ pullets are a hot commodity and because of that you are going to pay a premium for them and many times breeders won’t sell a pullet with out a cockerel, this is what I have found you maybe in an area where this is not the case. You may also be able to find a breeder that has pet quality they are looking to cull out of there breeding pen, that’s how I got my above broody I won’t hatch any of her eggs because she has a straight comb but I’m keeping her to increase my hen/roo ratio. Large fowl may pick on Silkies as they are docile, don’t fly so they can’t to get out of the way to a higher roost and because of their big Crest don’t see well and often don’t see the aggressor coming to get out of the way. Now don’t get me wrong Silkies are awesome I just wish I had knew some of these things before I got them. I’ve had to do some reconfiguring because A lot of the set ups for “chickens” don’t work well because they are a non flying ground chicken with limited eyesight- my Silkies don’t roost they sleep huddled on the ground and they won’t use a ramp either. Now I have heard some people get them to roost and go up ramps but I haven’t figured that out with mine. You can trim or pluck the feathers around the eyes to help with some of these issues and There are hatchery quality Silkies that tractor Supply sell that are more like large fowl but I can’t comment on how broody they are, I had a few for a month and they were just mean brats but that has been my experience. I have also heard Cochin are another sweet really broody breed, I have a friend that has one that broods her ducks for her.

 

[NNYchick]

Oh sorry I missed you would put them in their own set up that would make a lot easier. Having a little maternity ward of Silkie hens would work.

 

[Hinotori]

My silkies go broody about 3 times a year. Even if I hatch in the bator, silkies raise the chicks. I prefer silkies to raise the large fowl chicks. Seems to make for calmer, more accepting birds

 

[sue25]

I have quite a few silkies they go broody between 3to 4 times a year. I also have some silkie mixes that go broody quite often. I also have a nursery for the broodies. Works out fairly well as long as there just Silkies in there I put a Cochin on with them and she is quite aggressive when protecting her chicks. I most likely won't do that again. Think just Silkies will be there for now. Where do you live I might be able to help you with broodies?

 

[Hinotori]

As I am contemplating my 2018 hatching season, I find myself thinking of ways to make it as easy as possible for me to raise my Ameraucana chicks with the added responsibility of a new baby. Last year, I set about 60 Wheaten Ameraucana eggs and ONE (1) Wheaten cockerel hatched who I later decided to re-home. Five of those eggs started to develop but only the one hatched and he was 2 days late and barely made it his first 24hours. All of my EE eggs set, hatched on time and were robust chicks.

So I’m kicking around the idea of employing a few Silkie hens due to their reputation going broody often and being good mothers. I’d like to hear from people who raise them if this would be a good investment. I’m thinking about 4-5 Silkie hens to hatch and raise chicks as often as they’d like. They’d have their own portioned off area and covered run away from my LF. I think they would have better luck than my incubator hatching these Ameraucana eggs. I’ve always used Broodies in the past and I enjoy it much better than hatching and raising them myself.

How many times a year would you say a Silkie goes broody? I’m assuming if I’m looking for Silkie hens that I want to go broody I’d have to buy from a private breeder and not a hatchery. Are there certain varieties that are known to go broody more often?

Thanks in advance!

I'll have cull pullets available for cheap a few months after my first hatches.

I have 2-3 year old cull partridge hens that I've been using to raise chicks that you can have for free. I'd rather not eat hens if I can help it. I'll have to see how many there are. I think 3 or 4. They need bathed since they love mud. At least one is currently broody.

You're only about half an hour away. Just let me know if interested

 

[moomoodiddy]

As I am contemplating my 2018 hatching season, I find myself thinking of ways to make it as easy as possible for me to raise my Ameraucana chicks with the added responsibility of a new baby. Last year, I set about 60 Wheaten Ameraucana eggs and ONE (1) Wheaten cockerel hatched who I later decided to re-home. Five of those eggs started to develop but only the one hatched and he was 2 days late and barely made it his first 24hours. All of my EE eggs set, hatched on time and were robust chicks.

So I’m kicking around the idea of employing a few Silkie hens due to their reputation going broody often and being good mothers. I’d like to hear from people who raise them if this would be a good investment. I’m thinking about 4-5 Silkie hens to hatch and raise chicks as often as they’d like. They’d have their own portioned off area and covered run away from my LF. I think they would have better luck than my incubator hatching these Ameraucana eggs. I’ve always used Broodies in the past and I enjoy it much better than hatching and raising them myself.

How many times a year would you say a Silkie goes broody? I’m assuming if I’m looking for Silkie hens that I want to go broody I’d have to buy from a private breeder and not a hatchery. Are there certain varieties that are known to go broody more often?

Thanks in advance!

Mine tend to go broody all at once about twice a year. You can get lucky and get hatchery quality hens that go broody, but honestly any above that quality will go broody.

 

[chickenmomma16]

I'll have cull pullets available for cheap a few months after my first hatches.

I have 2-3 year old cull partridge hens that I've been using to raise chicks that you can have for free. I'd rather not eat hens if I can help it. I'll have to see how many there are. I think 3 or 4. They need bathed since they love mud. At least one is currently broody.

You're only about half an hour away. Just let me know if interested

Your such an enabler... My husband is going to ban me from your house one of these days!


Don’t eat them yet! I’m definitely interested in them. The separate run isn’t built yet. So I need to get hubby to build it. And my Ameraucanas have yet to start laying after their molt. The inside portion of the coop is done though. I’ll keep in touch.

Do you time your hatches to catch a hen when she’s broody? How many chicks can one hen handle?

I have quite a few silkies they go broody between 3to 4 times a year. I also have some silkie mixes that go broody quite often. I also have a nursery for the broodies. Works out fairly well as long as there just Silkies in there I put a Cochin on with them and she is quite aggressive when protecting her chicks. I most likely won't do that again. Think just Silkies will be there for now. Where do you live I might be able to help you with broodies?

I live in Washington state, a little too far away from you . That’s great yours go broody 3-4 times a year! What variety do you have?

 

[Sassysouth]

I have a question. And don’t laugh! If you boil silkie bones to make broth, does the broth have a black tint?

 

[Hinotori]

I have a question. And don’t laugh! If you boil silkie bones to make broth, does the broth have a black tint?

No. It just looks like a darker chicken broth just not quite as pale as other birds. I soup mine usually. Best use with their size.