Egg Hatching and Keeping Chickens

[Mini Horses]

FEM -- My consideration with your silkies would be whether fertile. Young roo, fresh lay, etc. . Maybe couple months?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I have if they are of size. Silkies don't usually lay small eggs for long. Only the first couple eggs.

I was surprised that her eggs aren't really that small. They started out bigger than what I expected and are all about the same size.

My consideration with your silkies would be whether fertile. Young roo, fresh lay, etc. . Maybe couple months?

So, confession time. I put the first 6 in the incubator already - you know - as an experiment, lol. I just candled 'em and 5 of the six are fertile! Woo hoo! I'm a little excited. Now - I know 5 fertile eggs don't automatically mean 5 chicks but I'm hopeful!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I put 4 eggs under the silkie. After putting her first 6 eggs in my incubator I was saving some for someone else. Texted him this morning that I had 4 eggs for him but he decided not to fire up his incubator for just 4 eggs so I gave 'em back to the silkie. Guess this wil be a test run for her. Kinda thought maybe I should put 'em in the incubator and give her some BYM eggs to practice on. Hmmmm, might need to give that some more consideration - don't need any more BYM birds.

 

[Mini Horses]

I didn't either but they're here all good. I'll give eggs away.

 

[Mini Horses]

Brand new to lay --
gotta learn to use the NEST, not just squat & drop

 

[frustratedearthmother]

It took this gal a couple of hours to figure out her "broodiness" had a purpose. I put eggs in there with her and she just ignored 'em, lol. She had found her spot in the corner of their little dog house shelter and she decided that's where she wanted to be. However, I persuaded her to move. She sat and sat in the same spot with the eggs right in front of her. Finally, she decided to tuck them under her and all seems to be well since then. Silly girl!

 

[Grandmas Porch]

I dont have any broody hens which is fine, I dont really need more, but if one is so inclined she could have 4

 

[Grandmas Porch]

I spoke to soon two hens started the Broody talk , one on Friday and one yesterday.
I wont let them have eggs at least until May 6th that makes hatch week, May 28 - June 3 which will be warmer, in the nest with baby food [purina or? crumbles- I hate it, it makes pasty butt but it seams to digest and dissolve better than what i love, scratch and peck crumbles.
OH what a hassle,,, I dont really want chicks this year

 

[Mini Horses]

Don't need them here either but one hen insisted! She's an every year girl. Before I really noticed it was real, she had 2 eggs working. I thought & decided that's was more than enough . Two chicks happened 2 days ago. She so loves being a mom.

 

[Grandmas Porch]

Don't need them here either but one hen insisted! She's an every year girl. Before I really noticed it was real, she had 2 eggs working. I thought & decided that's was more than enough . Two chicks happened 2 days ago. She so loves being a mom.

I Agree, I love all my hens, but they are meat on the hoof so to say, if I get ? say 6 hatched I can cull in the fall some of the 4yr olds, I have been watching them close to decide who goes in the freezer. I have my sister in-lae coming in June so if we are going to do this I guess we had better plan it out. I dont want to be dealing with chicks then,. In 23 I had 2 broodies, one got off the nest 1 week after they hatched the other stuck with hers and the others for 4 weeks.