I`M GETTING MY CHICK ORDER READY AND I WANT A COUPLE OF HENS THAT WILL HATCH OUT EGGS AND BE A GOOD MOTHER I HAVE READ THAT BUFF ORPINGTONS WILL DO THIS BUT I WANT TO HEAR FROM SOME OF YOU IF THIS IS TRUE.
DO BUFF ORPINGTONS GO BROODY?
Some do, but not real reliable in my experience. I have one that will take your arm off when you get the eggs and annother that just drops them wherever she happens to be. SIlkies are the absolute best for setting in my opinion. It's worth it to keep a couple around just for an incubator.
It really depends. Get a Silkie just for hatching. They will try to hatch air.
I have 4 girls laying and now 3 out of 4 are broody! They are mixes.
They dont lay eggs when they go broody so one egg a day until I can cure them.
Aghhhh!!!
THE ONLY THING WITH ME GETTTING SILKIES IS THAT THEY ARE SMALL AND CANNOT BE IN WITH THE OTHER CHICKENS AS THEY MIGHT PICK ON THEM BECAUSE OF THERE SIZE.DO YOU HAVE SILKIES IN WITH BIGGER CHICKENS SAY 4 TO 5 POUNDS.I HAVE THE SEXLINKS AND THEY ARE VERY CALM BIRDS,I DON`T KNOW IF THEY WOULD BOTHER SOMETHING SMALLER THAN THEM OR NOT
The other drawback to silkies is that their feathers don't do a very good job of insulating them, so they may need supplemental heat up there in Maine.
I had a broody Buff. Very Broody. And winter hardy, too. No extra heat needed.
Green: I have four Cochins and as Sewincircle said they also will hatch air. I think they are by far the most reliable. Just my opinion. It seems as they think thats their lot in life. LOL Haystack. The only drawback for some would be the feathered feet.
The cochins bantams,the feathers on there feet how do they make out in the snow?Can you cut the feathers on there feet so the snow will not ball up on them in the winter?
I keep my silkies in a lean to pen with just plastic around the sides. The only extra heat I give them is one bulb over the nest box when eggs hatched the week before christmas. They do fine as long as they are out of the wind. I keep my silkies seperate as I like having them close to the house to watch and are loose much of the time. The snow does build up on feathered feet! The silkies don't even like to go out with a lot of snow, but they are so content in their little pen, they don't care.
I live in NY and most of my chickens have feathered feet. They are fine.
I do not have silkies at this time. But I have known people who kept them fine with other types of chickens. But I dont know. I am hatching showgirls now. I will find out for you and let you know. hehehe
Thanks so much for the info.
I have a dumb question,can small roosters fertilize hens that are bigger than them?say silkies and sexlinks which are about 5 pounds or a hen that is bigger than that?My big rooster is going to a new home soon and I wanted to get either silkies or cochins batams in the spring in my chick order and you have to order straight run so I know there will be roosters mixed in there.
My guess -willingness by both parties has to be key!
My Irish Setter laid down for a hideous pug/chihuahua thing...
so I'm thinking if she's willing, he's a daddy.
LOL
Boy that is a good question. I am with them. I think yes, if she lets him.
FUNNY picturing those puppies. hehehe
Until they're yours to home...
Thank heavens for hormone shots... I saw the deed, I got her the shot. No pups.
{{phew...}}
Green: I have a banty roo, His name is BRAVEHEART, He is not one to mess with if your a hen, and he doesn't care what size they are. He mates with one of my marans on a regular basis. She used to get angry with him but she found out whose boss. Braveheart Rules. Haystack
Last year I had 15 production red and barred rock hens and one bantam rooster. Every hen had fertile eggs and the rooster still lived. This year I have buff orpingtons and they came with their own rooster.
Well, that answers that! I just got my first Silkie. Not sure if its a roo or hen. time will tell.
I keep my bantams in with the others larger chickens and they seem to do fine as long as the roos aren't to big for the little hens:-)
(fuzzychicken)
GREAT INFORMATION THANKS GUYS