Surprise! My Silkies are Broody... Again...

[Aunt Angus]

My 2 Silkies, Violet and Dandelion, are both broody. They have been broody on and off for nearly a month. This is after I broke them a month prior. Out of the 5 months of 2020, the little darlings have probably been broody a total of 4.

Should I break them? They do a good job of coming out of the nest daily. At night, their crops are fullish. The nest box they share is pretty clean. And they must do some scratching daily because their nails are short.

I don't really need them for eggs. I collect all eggs daily from under them (don't need any chicks right now, and my rooster is stuck inside for the time being). They seem ok health-wise. And chances are, they'll just go broody again in a couple of weeks.

But how long is too long? Is there any harm in letting them continue to set, or should I break them?

TIA

 

[Mylied]

My opinion on silkies is they are happiest being mothers. I don't break broodies, especially a breed that is meant to be broody. What you can do is give them a couple fertile eggs. If you don't need more chickens, just sell them at 6 weeks or sooner if the mom is done raising them. My showgirl started going broody after she laid her first egg. I let her hatch whenever she wants. She's a healthy, happy chicken. I did the same for silkies, cochins, gamebirds, and other broody breeds I've had.

 

[Aunt Angus]

My opinion on silkies is they are happiest being mothers. I don't break broodies, especially a breed that is meant to be broody. What you can do is give them a couple fertile eggs. If you don't need more chickens, just sell them at 6 weeks or sooner if the mom is done raising them. My showgirl started going broody after she laid her first egg. I let her hatch whenever she wants. She's a healthy, happy chicken. I did the same for silkies, cochins, gamebirds, and other broody breeds I've had.

I'll consider doing this after we move. I'll be moving in about a month to a bigger place where I'll be able to have a bigger coop and a bigger flock! I can add chickens then. I may just put some babies under them. I'd live to let them hatch, but I don't want any cockerels - not because I don't love them (I do), but because they'd be hard to home.

Thanks!

 

[Mylied]

I'll consider doing this after we move. I'll be moving in about a month to a bigger place where I'll be able to have a bigger coop and a bigger flock! I can add chickens then. I may just put some babies under them. I'd live to let them hatch, but I don't want any cockerels - not because I don't love them (I do), but because they'd be hard to home.

Thanks!

They're easy to rehome if they're free. I give away them as soon as a red comb starts forming. They are usually gone within a day. Just something to think about.

 

[chickens really]

My Silkie Hens are easy to break. I just block off where they keep wanting to set for a few days. My one Silkie was setting for almost 2 weeks and I removed her eggs because they ended up not fertile. I put a stump where she was and she is up running around like normal and not Broody. Another was Broody so I put another stump where she was yesterday and she is normal again too.

 

[AngieDawn]

I had a silkie hen that was almost always broody. Seriously. She would never give up

 

[Rachela]

My Silkie Hens are easy to break. I just block off where they keep wanting to set for a few days. My one Silkie was setting for almost 2 weeks and I removed her eggs because they ended up not fertile. I put a stump where she was and she is up running around like normal and not Broody. Another was Broody so I put another stump where she was yesterday and she is normal again too.

stump? You mean it blocked the area where they were going broody?

 

[chickens really]

stump? You mean it blocked the area where they were going broody?

Yes. Tree stumps I put where they were trying to set.