Here are the baby ducks that my silkie hatched out. She stole the nest from my Rouen who started annother and won't go more than 4 feet away to eat and drink so it doesn't happen again. The other silkie also hatched four ducklings, but they are bigger than her so she is helping the other momma. Only ONE silkie hatched silkie eggs and I only got two out of that. When I take the ducks away when they are bigger, will my silkies go broody again? I'd really like some silkies!
better of the ducks.
I don't know for sure, but I bet they do. If they love
setting eggs, they love setting eggs! Your ducklings are
just adorable. I can't wait to see which of my chickies
goes broody first. I'll have to wait a while, though.
Judging from my silkies, they will go broody again. Mine hatched out chicks, I saved up eggs for 3 days and started all over again. They are as broody as ever. I read a silkie is happiest when setting.
Do you think they suffer any nutritional deficits when
being broody so long? Do they continue to eat well?
I don't think so. I have been spending a lot of time outside working around the yard, I see all the broodies out and about atleast once a day. They come up pick at fresh greens and the gravel driveway and go back. I have four nests with eggs and several broodies, they share them. My cuckoo marans is the only one that wants her nest back. Everyone else is happy to share or take another nest. I keep layer pellets, gamebird crumbles for extra protein and oyster shell and 5 gallon waterer in the house with them. And when I give them scraps I give some to the broodies too.
oh my goodness that is ADORABLE! my broody hens gave up on the duck eggs so i brought them in...
mine haven't suffered nutrioinally, they made their nests on the floor, and i have kept chick starter and fresh water near them. and they go nuts when they see me coming with the green bucket of goat's milk! they took turns excusing themselves to poop outside. today they have one chick between them, out taking dust baths...
i also love your silkies, they are beauts!
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I think silkies are the happiest chickens out there wheather they are setting or not.
Thank you for posting these pics! A co-worker of my DH told him that silkies were too small to hatch out ducklings! I told him that you all said they could-now I have pics to prove it! Plus I just love looking at everyone's babies!
Sue ☺
