Silkies?

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Ok thanks. I only have 7 fake eggs. She isn’t going broody with 4 fake and 5 real is she going to go broody on the 7 fake?

My hens go broody on nothing, no egg required in the nest for them to go broody, it's a hormone thing... Although leaving fake eggs in the nest is suppose to help kick the hormones on, it will take time, Patience.

 

[ChickCrazyWorryWort]

Also I gave them all baths and noticed that the 2 darker ones are a little matted under their wings. Any suggestions on what to do about that? Try brushing them or cutting them out? I just got them a few days ago and they aren’t completely used to me yet. I’m a little nervous having scissors around them and don’t really know if they will tolerate brushing. Just bathing them was crazy!

 

[ChickCrazyWorryWort]

Yup. Those are all silkies. Its also fun breeding them. These are some of my little chicks just days after hatching them from a silkie hen and rooView attachment 2706953

I got 2 hens and a roo! Hoping to breed them also. This will be my first time breeding. Any advice? I’m hoping to just let them lay on their eggs and do everything on their own, but very nervous. Haven’t even gotten any eggs yet lol.

 

[ChickCrazyWorryWort]

You can just leave it

Oh alrighty thank you!

 

[Bryce Thomas]

I got 2 hens and a roo! Hoping to breed them also. This will be my first time breeding. Any advice? I’m hoping to just let them lay on their eggs and do everything on their own, but very nervous. Haven’t even gotten any eggs yet lol.

Just wait for the hens to lay eggs and the roo will fertilize, if its a broody breed you can get a crate and have the broody hen in the crate with feed (can be layer or non layer feed it doesn't matter) and with some water and a nest box, but remember if you want to move the broody hen to a crate or somewhere else you have to put a towel over her head or move her at night, if she knows she is in a different area she will not see the eggs or nest box as hers. My first breeding I moved my broody hen shadow while she saw everything and she was not on the nest for 20 hours and 9 eggs 1 week away from hatching were ice cold. Immediately bought an incubator and now I have 4 chicks, I should have had at least 6 but the cold killed some eggs, but the broody hen will be bullied a little bit when you move her back to the flock and coop and everything

 

[ChickCrazyWorryWort]

Just wait for the hens to lay eggs and the roo will fertilize, if its a broody breed you can get a crate and have the broody hen in the crate with feed (can be layer or non layer feed it doesn't matter) and with some water and a nest box, but remember if you want to move the broody hen to a crate or somewhere else you have to put a towel over her head or move her at night, if she knows she is in a different area she will not see the eggs or nest box as hers. My first breeding I moved my broody hen shadow while she saw everything and she was not on the nest for 20 hours and 9 eggs 1 week away from hatching were ice cold. Immediately bought an incubator and now I have 4 chicks, I should have had at least 6 but the cold killed some eggs, but the broody hen will be bullied a little bit when you move her back to the flock and coop and everything

I have the 2 silkie hens and roo in a separate run area and coop from my other chickens. Will I be able to just leave her in her coop on her nest with the other hen and roo?

 

[ChickCrazyWorryWort]

Silkies are more likely to brood naturally and if they're the only birds in your flock, (and even if they're not you still can normally) you can just let her brood in the coop. Works best for integration when she weans the chicks

Awesome! Thank you!

 

[ChickCrazyWorryWort]

I got them Friday and was told the white one should be laying fertile eggs for 10 days. Today is Sunday and I haven’t gotten any eggs from either hens. Is it normal that she hasn’t laid any yet? They have a coop with 2 nesting boxes, food and water and a roost. Maybe she’s not comfortable? She been eating, drinking and grazing on grass and bugs since I got her. Even almost comes up to me when I go out to the run and talk to them. I forgot to ask if the grey is laying, because my boyfriend has always told me no to roosters and they would only be sold as a pair. I was just so excited when he told me to go ahead and get the pair I didn’t ask any questions about them.

 

[ChickCrazyWorryWort]

Yes, Silkies are usually great mothers and mother should protect her chicks from the other hen no problem and rooster usually doesn't bother chicks. .. Just collect eggs daily (just keep on your bench and turn daily) and when one goes broody set how many you want (probably up to 8 eggs for normal size Silkie) pick the freshest ones you have and make sure you mark the eggs so if your other hen lays in her nest you can take those fresh ones away ..you don't want a staggered hatch.

So she won’t go broody after laying the first egg?

 

[PippinTheChicken]

My silkie will go broody on no eggs