3 hens, 4 chicks and a new silkie decides she wants to go broody & share the box!!

I have 3 silkies that went broody so my boys convinced me to give them eggs. I did...and what a nice little bunch of mommas and chicks I've got! Everyone shares babies and gets along. They're about a week old now.
I've ordered 18 more silkie eggs!! (I've definitely got an addiction going on, I did not heed the silkie warnings on this site )
How excited was I to find another hen had gone broody!! I set her up with a nice spot (half of a plastic dog crate, same as the first "family") but smaller because I kept finding her in the crate with everyone else!
I don't really have an issue with her being in the same crate....except for the fact that I'm afraid with all of the foot traffic the eggs (when I put some in next week) will get cracked or ruined somehow. I'm also afraid she will somehow come out of the broody trance and try to mother some of the chicks from the other girls and not stay with the ones I give her. I spent a lot of money on the eggs I've got coming and don't want her to abandon them! I've got until Tuesday to decide because I can put them into the brinsea with the others. Should I give her some store eggs to see if she will stay on them in her own box? Is she joining the others for warmth? Company?
I hope I'm articulating myself so y'all can understand my dilemma!
PLEASE weigh in if you have an opinion! I had wonderful luck with the first 3 hens sharing and caring for these first 4 babies. I think if she cares for them she would do better than any store bought incubator! Is it worth the risk?
Thanks in advance to anyone who replies!!

Are there already eggs in the Brinsea? When are they due?

If you give her the eggs, but also have a bator, you could just watch her, and IF she abandons them, then put them in the bator. Hopefully she will stay with them, but having the bator as a fallback is great!

Good luck!

No eggs in the brinsea yet, it's coming Monday and the eggs are due on Tuesday. I've got a lousy farm innovations styrofoam if it gets delayed... But I'd have more luck sitting on the eggs myself what do you think of giving her some infertile eggs to see what she will do?

And of course slipping the fertile eggs under her when they come?

hi, your plan of letting her sit on infertile eggs for the time being is a very good one. Some hens make great first time mums, and others can be pants (less likely with silkies as i have read that they are great broodies). So, if she sits religiously on the infertile eggs and only gets off the nest to eat and poo, then theres no reason to think that she will not hatch your fertile eggs.

All the best and its good to know that you are not immune to chicken maths

CT

I dont suppose it would hurt to try that, but I've never had a broody. Maybe someone else will chime in on that.

My gut says it may give her something to occupy her until the "real" ones come. And if she quits on them, you would know to put the good ones in the bator instead.

On the other hand, I dont know if they instinctively "count" days, or if she would know what due date was supposed to be (which you would be extending by giving here infertile ones, and give up in the last few days.

Hope someone else has input!

WVduckchick said:

I dont suppose it would hurt to try that, but I've never had a broody. Maybe someone else will chime in on that.

My gut says it may give her something to occupy her until the "real" ones come. And if she quits on them, you would know to put the good ones in the bator instead.

On the other hand, I dont know if they instinctively "count" days, or if she would know what due date was supposed to be (which you would be extending by giving here infertile ones, and give up in the last few days.

Hope someone else has input!

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A broody can stay broody for a heck of a long time (beyond the 21 days) - eggs or no eggs. I guess the idea here of using infertile eggs is to see if she is 100% committed to being broody as its a process that develops, rather than just begins all of a sudden.

Cheers

CT

CTKen said:

A broody can stay broody for a heck of a long time (beyond the 21 days) - eggs or no eggs. I guess the idea here of using infertile eggs is to see if she is 100% committed to being broody as its a process that develops, rather than just begins all of a sudden. 

Cheers

CT

Click to expand...

Thanks!

Thank you all so much... I'm going to block access to the other " family" of 7 in the morning. She is going to be on her own, she needs to be able to get food and water ...and to let her disgusting smelly poop outside! The 7 don't leave their box yet and have food and water. I will give her a few eggs to test her and let you all know how she does. This community of other crazy chicken people has been a valuable asset to me. You're all good" PEEPS" lol

You are most welcome Do let us know how it goes ok?

Cheers
CT