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pairing up broody hens

(27 posts)

  1. dollydylo
    Member

    Hello everyone!

    we currently have one broody black silkie sitting on some fertilised eggs, and are hoping our previously broody silkie will also become broody again so she can sit on some too.

    the eggs not under the black silkie have been put in our incubator as hubby wanted them to all hatch at the same time.

    Now, here is where I am concerned. we currently have a shed that we have put a divide down the middle of (a third of the height of the shed). the plan is to have one broody on each side. do we need to completely segregate them so they don't fight, steal each others eggs or harm the chicks, or should they be ok.

    also, when is the latest we could safely transfer the eggs from the incubator to under the other silkie when/if she becomes broody without harming the chicks growing inside.

    final question.... we will still have some eggs left in the incubator anyway. If they hatch out too, will we be able to integrate them with chicks hatched under the broody, or will we have to keep them separate incase the mum hurts them.

    Phew... any advice gratefully recieved as always!!!

    thanks

    Karen x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  2. m40mo
    Administrator

    hope an eggspurt can answer you soon Karen x

    mo x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  3. Katydid
    Member

    Aah, I have a little experience in this. I have not succeeded in having 2 mothers and broods together. I will not tell you what happened. I still don't like to think about it. However, there may well be others here with different experiences. In future I will always keep my broods separate.

    As for putting eggs and/or chicks with broodies, I often do that and have put eggs under as they are pipping and it's been fine, as long as you have a good mum, and I understand silkies make great mums.

    I have also given chicks to broodies but the timing is very important and it does depend on the mum.

    I hope this helps.
    KT

    No holidays, too many birds.
    Posted 1 year ago #

  4. dollydylo
    Member

    Hi KT

    thanks for the response.. I have heard that broodies can attack the other mother and/or chicks so perhaps we can divide the shed better so that they have no contact with each other at all.

    This is the first time we have had a broody silkie (our last broodie was a maran) and I have heard the same. Only problem is that they are smaller and can't have as many eggs/chicks under them! good to hear you can put pipping eggs under though.. we may have to try that!

    thanks again

    Karen x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  5. Katydid
    Member

    Hi Karen,

    We even had an Auracana once that we could put just hatched chicks under and she accepted them, BUT we knew she was a brilliant mum. It has gone horribly wrong with other birds.

    Pipping eggs seem to work well. Only real problems I've had is with Black Rocks. I've had horrible experiences with them even when they've hatched their own eggs and will never let them sit now.

    Hope all goes well and look forward to hearing some good news.
    KT

    No holidays, too many birds.
    Posted 1 year ago #

  6. dollydylo
    Member

    morning!!

    Well, thought I would give an update. The black silkie is still broody and happily sitting on 6 eggs of various types. We have since had a speckled maran get broody too, so hubby divided the shed completely into two, and they both have their own exit into a separated garden area!

    Of course, our gold silkie has now got broody too, so as she has been so persistent in the past she is now in a rabbit hutch!

    That solves the problem on how to integrate the chicks under a broody... we don't need to now!

    Will keep you updated on how they get on.. thanks for the advise!

    Karen x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  7. Katydid
    Member

    Exciting Karen. Am impressed with the divided shed, very necessary I would say. I have 2 broody girls sitting now and both due sometime next week so we've got to sort out appropriate brooders before then.
    KT

    No holidays, too many birds.
    Posted 1 year ago #

  8. m40mo
    Administrator

    oh sounds exciting when are they due Karen x

    mo x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  9. dollydylo
    Member

    A week Sunday will be 21 days, so any time around then... can't wait to see the broody's faces when the have 3 different types of chicks each (if they all hatch of course)

    Karen x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  10. m40mo
    Administrator

    lol will they notice x and I hope they do hatch x

    mo x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  11. dollydylo
    Member

    So, we now have a maran sitting on to unhatched eggs and looking after 4 chicks. Her neighbour in the shed we know has one hatched chick but haven't seen any others today.. she is still sitting tight.
    our third broody (on the eggs that got cold) is still sitting but no signs of hatching yet.

    oooooh, how exciting!! All fingers crossed please that we have a haram of girls and no boys!!

    Karen x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  12. m40mo
    Administrator

    haha fingers crossed but wont put money on it Karen x

    mo x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  13. dollydylo
    Member

    Well, we had a sad start to the morning by finding two of the maran's chicks dead. One was away from the nest and I think must have died of cold, and the brown chick was squashed in the nest.

    Last night we saw one chick newly hatched under the gold silkie, but no sign today as she is sitting tight and being grumpy.. fair enough!

    The black silkie moved this morning to reveal 5 beautiful fluffy chicks! This should hopefully soften the blow when I tell the kids we lost two this morning.

    will update further when I have more news!

    Karen x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  14. dollydylo
    Member

    Morning all

    No real changes.. black silkies chicks are lovely and seem happy, we have seen a fluffy chick under the gold silkie but she is still sitting tight on the rest of the eggs.
    I am glad I was advised to split the maran and black silkie.. the maran seems very unhappy having the silkie and her chicks close by. Thankfully they can only see each other and can't touch each.

    Karen x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  15. m40mo
    Administrator

    so pleased things seem to be going well now Karen x

    mo x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  16. dollydylo
    Member

    Hi all

    Well a mixed day really. The maran was still unsettled so I adjusted the shared accomodation. Although the majority of it was seperated by hard wood, the front was with mesh and they could see each other when the maran walked to the garden entrance from her side. I have now put some cardboard up and they can't see each other, and that seems to have calmed things.

    This afternoon on the way out with the kids we saw the gold silkie out for the first time with her chick. mum went back on the nest and chick was still outside, but we headed off hoping it found its way back into the rabbit hutch. It did, but was dead by the other door near the nest. I can only guess it stayed out too long. Very sad as I am beginning to think the rest of her eggs won't hatch either..

    Karen x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  17. Mama
    Member

    Aw sorry Karen you lost one but don't give up yet we all know how hard it is and hopefully the rest will hatch fingers crossed .Mama x

    Goose Girl
    Posted 1 year ago #

  18. dollydylo
    Member

    Hi Mama

    It would have been 21 days on Sunday, although I was then adding a couple of days on top for a couple of eggs getting cold and us moving her around.

    When do you think I should remove the eggs? Another day or two?

    Karen x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  19. Mama
    Member

    Hi Karen,do you mean 21 days last Sunday? If so I would remove them now as well over hatch date .You could wait another 2 days if you want but honestly don't think there is much chance now sadly . Mama x

    Goose Girl
    Posted 1 year ago #

  20. dollydylo
    Member

    Hi Mama

    Yes, 21 days last Sunday.. was giving her a couple of extra days as we have had some hatch at 23 before in the incubator, and she was the girl I had moved around and a couple of eggs had got cold..

    I do think you are right though and am just putting off the inevitable! Best buy some thick 'beak proof' gloves as there is no way she will go willingly...

    Karen x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  21. Mama
    Member

    Aw ,well have a listen if you can first just to make sure if you can get at them,any chance you could candle ?
    .Is she not coming off to feed ? Or can't you see her doing it ? Yes an incy but not known hens go over by more than a day or so . Mama x

    Goose Girl
    Posted 1 year ago #

  22. dollydylo
    Member

    Hi Mama

    she has literally just come off for a stretch, but as soon as I got to the back door she ran straight in again. typical. will do it tomorrow when I have more time to be careful with her and the eggs.

    If I just remove them is she likely to get upset (other than just grumpy). Any good way of doing it? I wouldn't have worried so much if she still had a chick to look after!

    thanks

    Karen x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  23. Mama
    Member

    You could give her one of the other chicks if you don't mind her being out of action.If you did that it would have to be at night,slide the chick under her and remove the eggs. If not you could put a large towel over her ,wrap her up as she will stay calm that way and then remove the eggs and nest.Not easy on your own though.She will be grumpy and as you know make still make another nest even without eggs unless you put her in your sin bin .Good luck Karen and hope what ever you decide it works .Mama x

    Goose Girl
    Posted 1 year ago #

  24. dollydylo
    Member

    I supposed I'd just feel a bit mean putting her in the sin bin, but saying that I think it is the only option. She is in the rabbit hutch and with foxes around again I would feel happier with her in the chicken house and less exposed.

    Think I will move her tomorrow when I have more time to do it.. and thanks for the towel suggestion, I wouldn't have thought of that.

    thanks for all the advice.. as always!!!

    Karen x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  25. Mama
    Member

    Your'e more than welcome had help myself and hope you can sort it .Dam foxes are a terror .Mama x

    Goose Girl
    Posted 1 year ago #

  26. dollydylo
    Member

    helloo

    well, I lifted the gold silkie off the eggs and put her in the 'sin bin'. she was fine to start then started giving out! All eggs now removed. I will check them later to see if they were fertile etc.

    x

    Karen x
    Posted 1 year ago #

  27. Mama
    Member

    Aw Well done Karen , lol yes she will be stamping her feet and marching up and down.Hope she cures quickly .Mama x

    Goose Girl
    Posted 1 year ago #

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