Accidental Chicks! But the best ever!

[Poultry Showman]

A few mornings ago my younger sister tore into the house and proceeded to tell me that Mohawk and Jenny my two silkie girls had a chick under them! Later that day more hatched! It is now day three and I have 12 happy strong chicks that came by accident. They are a wonderful blessing, and what a surprise! I guess I forgot to collect eggs...

Sorry I don't have pics. I can't figure out how to get pictures on my Chromebook yet

So my question is...
If you found a bunch of surprise chicks in your coop what would your reaction be? If you have had this happen to you then what was your experience?

 

[Shabby Chic-Hens]

I had a similar experience with ducklings last year lol. It’s pretty exciting alright!

 

[MROO]

A few mornings ago my younger sister tore into the house and proceeded to tell me that Mohawk and Jenny my two silkie girls had a chick under them! Later that day more hatched! It is now day three and I have 12 happy strong chicks that came by accident. They are a wonderful blessing, and what a surprise! I guess I forgot to collect eggs...

Sorry I don't have pics. I can't figure out how to get pictures on my Chromebook yet

So my question is...
If you found a bunch of surprise chicks in your coop what would your reaction be? If you have had this happen to you then what was your experience?

Until they start to feather out, I usually keep Mama & babies separated from the main flock, but only by a wire wall. My method won't work for everyone, but I am blessed to have the space. I keep a small rabbit hutch (on legs and with a hard top, so we don't lose floor space) in there, now, and it works like a charm. When we don't have babies, it's a rodent-proof storage area. I've also used it to separate injured birds and breeding pairs. When left open, it quickly achieves "Most Favored Nesting Box" status - a nuisance to get into, but at least all the eggs are in one place!
You could also use a dog kennel, but most of them have large wire opening. You'll need to add hardware cloth around the outside to prevent escapees, because Mama can't protect them if she's stuck in the cage. Oh - and put a board on top to prevent some nasty "christening" at roosting time!
No matter what size your babies are, make sure there are plenty of hiding places for escaping would-be bullies. PVC pipes and cardboard packing tubes work well, just make sure they're big enough for chicks to get into easily and long enough that the big'uns can't get to them from either end.
Babies are SO much fun ... and Silkie babies are extra adorable. Enjoy them! And be sure to post pictures when you can. We all love baby pics!

 

[Poultry Showman]

Just trying to get some funny stories I know how to take care of them. They're probably batch number eight or nine that I've purchased or hatched. In a span of four years.

 

[aart]

I guess I forgot to collect eggs...

For 3 weeks?!?!!!

 

[MROO]

For 3 weeks?!?!!!

Aw, c'mon @aart, you can't convince me that you've never had a super-sneaky broody hide a nest, especially in a crowded flock!

I recently had an egg-stealing bantam cochin who apparently got disagreed with my decision not to hatch, last Spring. I found her, purely by accident, on a secret nest in a recessed corner of our old coop box.
I had NO clue! For the entire two-and-a-half weeks, she never missed a feeding. I didn't notice her missing at night check, because everyone crowds on the same roosting bar (of course!) It was just one eight-foot long bar of fluffed-up, red feathers - and who can accurately count nineteen nearly identical chickens in a large run during the day?
When I finally discovered the little sneak's evil plot, I swooped her, nest and all, straight into a kennel and into my car. They now live at our local Ag High School, where she can happily brood as many clutches as she wants. I can't afford a chick machine!

 

[aart]

Aw, c'mon @aart, you can't convince me that you've never had a super-sneaky broody hide a nest, especially in a crowded flock!

Nope, no place to hide in my setup.

I didn't notice her missing at night check, because everyone crowds on the same roosting bar (of course!) It was just one eight-foot long bar of fluffed-up, red feathers - and who can accurately count nineteen nearly identical chickens in a large run during the day?

I've done it at night with that many, I wear a headlight and count heads/combs....every.single.night.
Tho I have 11 feet of roost.

 

[Poultry Showman]

She hid under some Nesting boxes. And generally my siblings help me collect eggs because I am very busy with highschool sports. So I am not completely at fault here!

 

[Poultry Showman]

Aw, c'mon @aart, you can't convince me that you've never had a super-sneaky broody hide a nest, especially in a crowded flock!

I recently had an egg-stealing bantam cochin who apparently got disagreed with my decision not to hatch, last Spring. I found her, purely by accident, on a secret nest in a recessed corner of our old coop box.
I had NO clue! For the entire two-and-a-half weeks, she never missed a feeding. I didn't notice her missing at night check, because everyone crowds on the same roosting bar (of course!) It was just one eight-foot long bar of fluffed-up, red feathers - and who can accurately count nineteen nearly identical chickens in a large run during the day?
When I finally discovered the little sneak's evil plot, I swooped her, nest and all, straight into a kennel and into my car. They now live at our local Ag High School, where she can happily brood as many clutches as she wants. I can't afford a chick machine!

Thank you! Little stinkers are SO sneaky! I used to count my chickens but I always get home late and am usually tired enough that I lock them up and check on them in the mornings

 

[Poultry Showman]

Update: I have fifteen and three more are due to hatch today or tomorrow morning because I can hear them peeping in their shells!