[raeburg]

Now that the incubator has produced fluffy buffy, it's all alone in the brooder (OK it's a propagator really).  One of my silkies is sitting on a clutch of eggs due to hatch next week, the other has just gone broody (but did actually lay yesterday, despite not moving all day).  I'd like to get the chick with a hen, rather than being on it's own, so which would you go for?  The girl with no eggs or wait for the others to hatch and add it in then?

Thank you all for all the advice so far and one day I'll stop asking questions, promise.

[Vember]

Hi Raeburg

Tricky one that :?

Buffy will be quite a bit bigger by the time the next lot hatch, he/she may pick on the younger ones??

Has the other bird been broody before? Has she raised chicks?
Could you give her a couple more days to be sure she's boody??

HAve you tried taking the chick near to her so that she can hear it chirping? If so how does she react?
If she purrs you might be on to a winner

Sorry for all the questions, but you know your birds I can't really say if it were me because what I'd do with Sassy (very good Mum ) I wouldn't do with Willow (only done the Mum thing once), if you know what I mean :?


Sarah

[raeburg]

Hi Sarah
Buffy will be a week older than the new hatchlings.  the other bird has not been broody before, my gut instinct is that she might not be very good at it, she's quite a clumsy madam (lays soft shelled eggs and breaks most with her feet) and not as amenable as the sitting girl.

I'll try taking the chick near her, it's a nice day and she  might surprise me.

Thanks

Rae