what are the chances a 1 year old silkie hen will "adopt" chicks?

[jefra]

I have 7 chicks ranging in ages from 5 weeks to 2 weeks.

and

I just got a full grown 1 year old silkie in the mail today.

As I was holding her she'd look at the chicks and kind of growl(?). I put her in the tractor with the older chicks for a bit and she got a little concerned when I took the chicks in, after about a half hour or so to get warm. She's good with them in the tractor, not pecking or chasing them, but I'm wondering what the chances are that she would "adopt" them and keep them warm at night and raise them a little more naturally? How would I know?

Thanks!

 

[robin416]

The only way you'll know for sure is to watch them. I'd say the chances are pretty slim since she just went through the trauma of being shipped. She probably should have been kept in quarantine for a bit before being put with the chicks to be certain she doesn't have anything the chicks could catch.

 

[jefra]

ooh. that's true - i did jump the gun there. but she was kept by herself as a pet chicken so I wasn't as vigilent thinking as I should have been.

anybody else?