4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[thebdj]

So it would appear that my gold silkie (Golddust) hass gone very very broody! The timing just adds to the comedy of the hatching experience I have already had. I have waited ages for one of my girls to go broody and then the day after the 'bator girls and boys come out, she decides to sit fast!

 

All fairly textbook as well. In my free-rangig run I leave an old rabbit hutch with some straw bedding in it. There were two little porcelain bantam eggs in there too. Typically it served as an additional place for the girls to lay but Golddust decided to sit fast. I gave her 48 hours and then moved her to my broody run where she is totally isolated. She ahs access to food and water and all of the usual amenities in the free-ranging run except company!

 

After a further 48 hours I put some eggs under her. She nearly bit my fingers off and also growled at me which is a truly hilarious noise coming from a chicken! She has been on the eggs 24 hours and seems happy as larry. Also, she is brilliant at looking after herself, it would appear that she gets off the nest once a day, has some food and water, a bath and a poo and then goes back on the nest!

 

So what I am interested in now is what extra I need to do for her and potential babies as and if they hatch. I know she will do all the necessary stuff around keeping them warm and teaching them to do things but what should I do about food. Should I provide chickcrumb or should I just let Golddust take the potential babies outside in the muck to forage?

 

Is there anything else I need to do to help them all? I am keeping my eye on Golddust to make sure she is ok and I will do that throughout her brooding.

 

Very excited anout now having some potential hatchees in a more natural way!

 

Justin

[Lewis]

Typical chickens! Good luck

 

You will have to provide chick crumbs for the chicks to at, and she should be ok on it, unless you have a raised up pot that only she can get to with layers and corn in it.

Just check she is ok whilst sitting, and I'd dust her with red mite powder too to be on the safe side.