Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[LadiesAndJane]

Thank you @PioneerChicks and @Silkelee
for your replies. I truly appreciate you!
Yes, I was planning to hatch later this Spring, but Kana has other plans.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Thank you @PioneerChicks and @Silkelee
for your replies. I truly appreciate you!
Yes, I was planning to hatch later this Spring, but Kana has other plans.

Haha.. I can often guess when each of mine will go broody, it's almost like clockwork!
.. Cant wait till our broody's eggs hatch!! .. Hopefully mine do though because I've had trouble with rooster fertilising, last egg I checked was fertile so hoping the ones Nugget is sitting on are too or I'll have to break poor Nuggets heart in a cage after she's sat for 10 days

 

[LadiesAndJane]

So I moved Kana this morning into a large dog kennel inside the coop with room for water and food, moved the eggs over to a cardboard box with an egg mat inside. She and her sister had managed to lay two more eggs so added those in as well. She happily just sat right on them as if nothing had happened!
Later this evening I’ll let her out and see if she goes back on her own. If so I’ll just leave the door open then she can come and go as she pleases.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

So I moved Kana this morning into a large dog kennel inside the coop with room for water and food, moved the eggs over to a cardboard box with an egg mat inside. She and her sister had managed to lay two more eggs so added those in as well. She happily just sat right on them as if nothing had happened!
Later this evening I’ll let her out and see if she goes back on her own. If so I’ll just leave the door open then she can come and go as she pleases.

Great news about the move!.. Was she sitting on all the eggs at the same time? - you placed them under her at the same time? Otherwise you may have a staggered hatch which can be difficult to manage.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Great news about the move!.. Was she sitting on all the eggs at the same time? - you placed them under her at the same time? Otherwise you may have a staggered hatch which can be difficult to manage.

Thanks!
Oh, yes she is sitting on all the eggs, 9 in all, the two new were less then a day later, so figured that would still be ok. They are all marked and I plan to remove any more that she or others may lay. She did not come off the nest to eat or drink at all today (it is 10:30 pm here now). I opened the kennel door, some of the others were curious about what she was doing in there, but otherwise left her alone for the most part. Only was off the nest once, briefly this morning to dust bathe and eat. I read this is normal, but still concerned about her. Hoping to catch her off the nest in the morning. She only weighs just under 800 g, she does not have much weight to lose!

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Thanks!
Oh, yes she is sitting on all the eggs, 9 in all, the two new were less then a day later, so figured that would still be ok. They are all marked and I plan to remove any more that she or others may lay. She did not come off the nest to eat or drink at all today (it is 10:30 pm here now). I opened the kennel door, some of the others were curious about what she was doing in there, but otherwise left her alone for the most part. Only was off the nest once, briefly this morning to dust bathe and eat. I read this is normal, but still concerned about her. Hoping to catch her off the nest in the morning. She only weighs just under 800 g, she does not have much weight to lose!

Oh thats good then you eggs are same day
Sometimes my broodies go 3 days without getting off the nest at all. They will loose weight, just part of brooding. They make up for it by eating lots after that hatch is over. Her instincts should guide her when to get off and eat/ drink/ poo etc. I allow up to 3 days and if they don't get off I'll take them off the nest (esp if they are first time mums/ pullets) .. Their health is the main reason why I break a broody if not hatching. Some people have opinions to just let them brood on nothing and they eventually get over it but it is not healthy for the hen.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Oh thats good then you eggs are same day
Sometimes my broodies go 3 days without getting off the nest at all. They will loose weight, just part of brooding. They make up for it by eating lots after that hatch is over. Her instincts should guide her when to get off and eat/ drink/ poo etc. I allow up to 3 days and if they don't get off I'll take them off the nest (esp if they are first time mums/ pullets) .. Their health is the main reason why I break a broody if not hatching. Some people have opinions to just let them brood on nothing and they eventually get over it but it is not healthy for the hen.

Thanks for your help! I really appreciate the reassurance.
She is only 7 months old, so I am a little worried about her. She is quite the character and the only one of my pullets that has ever pecked me! She is the alpha and bosses around the others, which is pretty funny. She chases my silver laced english orpington pullet who is easily 5 x her size!
I have an olive egger that goes broody often, it was easy to break her with the metal dog cage, but Kana here was insisting on being broody. I will keep a close eye on her.

 

[PioneerChicks]

So, Pewee is starting to act on his hormones a bit more. He attacked a family member of mine. Of course, the family member lightly pushed him away with their foot, not wanting to hurt him. We are all wearing long, thick pants at this time of year, so he is practically harmless. But I have banned all small people from the coop. Pewee doesn't really attack me unless I shove my foot in his face, but I'm taking extra measures with him. I'm sure he'll get over this fast, he is very mellow.

On the good side, I saw him mating a silkie hen! I'll start checking the next eggs I crack for fertility!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

So checked my little broody early this morning. She came out, ate, drank, pooped, preened, chased a few of the others around to maintain her status, I presume, and then went back to the eggs. I will not worry for now and will try to candle the eggs day 7 and see if anything is developing.

 

[featherhead007]

I have a Silkie! OKay, probably not: