The Broody Sistas .... picture

[sekinkead]

That is such a cute picture!! That is why I also want silkies. My kids would like some silies to show for 4-H to. Good luck with them!

 

[kathyinmo]

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I would love to leave them in the main Silkie coop! The only reason I moved them is because the others keep laying, and these two keep stealing more eggs! Then, they fight and argue over who gets what! I have only 2 nests in there (8 layers), and they all pile on top of each other in one. Yes, I know to mark the eggs. But with 4 or 5 added each day, they kept knocking them around, arguing, and I thought some were getting cold. PLUS, I have 2 more broodies out there now! It is a big fiasco of broodiness!

It was just easier to move them into the garage to brood. I suppose that was the wrong thing to do, and will cause issues to reintroduce them, huh? Hmmmm, maybe I should take them back out and figure out something else!

 

[DAFox]

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The Silkies have their own little coop! They do fine in the winter weather, so far anyway!

I was gonna stick some of the Del eggs under them, but I was afraid I would break their broodiness, so I didn't. I don't want any more Silkies, just the ones I have. I just gave up, and let them sit on their own eggs. My plan now is to let them set, and then replace the eggs with the new chicks due at Christmas! LOL I dunno ???? With having 4 broody Silkies, I am hoping they will raise this next batch that is in the bator now! Maybe!

I ive about 10 miles south of Kathy and right now I have a Mama BA and 5 chicks in my garden, nesting in a double storage tote set-up. A smaller tote inside another tote that is a little bit larger. I cut matching holes into one side of the totes for their doorway. They stayed in my garage for 5 days, then I moved them out to the fenced garden. They are doing great, even at well below freezing temps. I have a couple of places for them to hide from hawks and owls, so I hope they will do ok. I did the same thing this summer for a mama hen and 3 chicks.

Kathy -- Are the Sistas arguing over whose nest is whose? They are really cute!!
Will you hatch the Silkie eggs in the bator, then? I'll be hatching some of your eggs on the 28th (hopefully). I'd be willing to buy those that hatch. What's a few more in the brooder?...
Dale-Ann

 

[lauralou]

Is it just my eye, or do those ladies have some amazingly good buff color going on?

 

[kathyinmo]

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They really are beautiful little girls, thank you! I think I'm just gonna let them hatch out their eggs. The family talked me into it! Now keeping them .... I really don't want any more! We'll see!

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Yes, they really do. Thanks for looking!

 

[speckledhen]

I always remove my broodies from the main flock, was thinking maybe you were leaving your Silkies in with the others, but yeah, the egg stealing would make more work for you.

 

[kathyinmo]

Oh, these silly girls ... I tell ya, they are so funny. They both come out to eat, drink, and broody poop at the same time. Then, when they go back in, it is hillarious! They each keep stealing each others' eggs. Back and forth, the eggs go! These are well turned eggs, I guess! LOL

 

[hinkjc]

Oh kathy! Those buff girls are gorgeous!

They remind me of my buff silkies gals I used to have. I miss those little fluffy ladies so much! Thanks for sharing their adorable pic of broodiness. I hope they are good moms for you.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Lovely birds! I love the two sharing the box. You can just hear them chatting, like in an old beauty parlor.

I leave mine with the flock, but provide an area that is wired off. It keeps the others from wanting to lay in the nest and it protects the babies for the first couple of days. Once they get their legs under them I move the barrier and let them have at it. My mama silkies are ferocious and nobody messes with their babies. It does make it easier down the road, because the babies are already acclimated to the flock and the flock to them.

Good luck with your hatch! I had a silver sebright and a mille fleur d'uccle that shared and egg and somehow managed to hatch it out. They kept stealing it from each other (they were sharing a nest box also). When the baby hatched they both claimed it and both mothered it until it was grown. It was the funniest thing!

 

[kathyinmo]

I wonder if these two will mother all the chicks they both hatch?

I am also wondering if I made a mistake in bringing them inside the garage. Do you think I should take them back out, and just wire off a section for them, so that they are still with the other Silkies? Hhmmm, I just don't know what to do!

I now have broody # 3 inside, in a small dog kennel. I will go get a picture of her, too.