I prefer to keep them separate from the other breeds. they are low in pecking order. I live in 9a zone (moved from 9b) and silkies are fine with heat. they need a shelter during the day as all the chickens do. no special care needed.
luckily that crack was minor and as it was supposed to hatch soon I didn't take care of the crack at all. I do have a cracked indian runner egg that I covered with wax.
I need to build maternity ward for my dutch bantams.
a few days ago my 2 broodies had a fight and I found cold eggs. I put them in incubator. when one broodie hatched 1 duch bantam I took the chick and gave her again 2 silkie eggs. yesterday another ex broody had a fight with the poor one and kicked out all 6 eggs (2 silkie) that she was sitting...
another black silkie hatched :wee the first one is 4 days old. the first broody has 3 dutch bantam chicks and 1 black silkie. she rejected a dutch bantam chick that hatched yesterday so I must make a cage for the other broody with 2 chicks and hope that the other 2 dutch bantam eggs hatch. I...
I had 2 broodies (dutch bantam) sitting together. 3 chicks hatched: 1 black silkie and 2 dutch bantams). I separated 1 broody with the chicks and left the other one on the eggs. some eggs were set/laid 2-3 days later. I hope to hatch more silkies.
sorry to hear that.
my last years' first hatch was 10 silkies. 2 killed by the wyandotte broody, 7 died from 1 wo to 3 mo, 1 cockerel with pea comb survived. sold him as ornamental bird.