Taking chicks from hen

[beameuplord]

I just ordered some fertile eggs for my silkie. If by some miracle some of them should hatch, I was thinking about taking them for a few days so they could be more tame. My silkies are easy to round up, but the chicks she raised back in the spring are a real pain to get in the coop if I have to go somewhere because they aren't as tame. I let them free range when ever possible.
And... the last little chick she hatched was splay legged because I thinks she sat on it too long. Do you think it would be wise to keep them from her a few days to be sure they are standing on their own pretty good and to make them more tame by handling them? I know she will be fine sitting on her nest ...eggs or no eggs.

Thanks for your opinion.
tJ

 

[robin416]

The only time I take chicks from my Silkies is if something is wrong with the chick. I've never had a problem with getting mine in but then that's because they are trained to come to a key phrase at which point they get a reward. They all learn it even the youngest chicks.

Occassionally I have one pigheaded bird decide its not moving. That's where the snow shovel comes in handy. The bird can't move fast enough to join the rest of the flock.

 

[Omeletta]