val worsley Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Hi I have a 10 month old silkie who lost her sister on new years day. After being broody for 3 weeks is now out of it but is constantly looking and feeding her invisible chicks. How can I help her, could I buy some chicks in and would she accept them. I would be grateful for any suggestions please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 She may accept day olds (some people have been successful with older chicks), but why not get some hatching eggs if you can Put them under her at night by replacing her existing eggs one by one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
val worsley Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 Thanks we did think of this but as she has come out of being broody would she still sit on eggs? she has been looking for her chicks for a week now, if I could find day old silkie chicks quickly do you think she would continue to mother them for long enough and how likely am I to find them at this time of year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 She needs to be broody and sitting on eggs, with day olds you again place them in at night and remove eggs. Perhaps get her a couple of POL friends to keep her company and distract her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I agree, if she's snapped out of being a broody its too late to get her hatching eggs or day old chicks. You'd also have to deal with any male chicks and if you did want silkie chicks it'd be a long time before you could sex them and they could all turn out to be boys ... and so back in the situation you are in now! Is she on her own? She's probably just lonely and looking for friends rather than chicks. Getting her some POL friends sounds like a better idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 When our silkie did that, she still chirped when she found something interesting to eat - our orpies didn't complain - the greedy gannets! She's well out of the broodiness at the moment, but I think she might start up again next month. Persistent is the best word for her broodiness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Don't put chicks in with her if she is no longer broody. She will kill them. Why not get her a companion or two? There will inevitable be some battles, but things will settle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
