How long is it safe to wait before putting eggs under a broody hen?

If this is in the wrong forum, let me know... I figured it went with "natural" incubation and hatching! lol Anyway, I'm planning to be away for the first 2 weeks of July and I have a hen who has been broody for 5 days. I am planning on getting eggs in the mail to put under her (she is a silkie) and was hoping to delay putting them under until the point when they would be hatching after my return so that I can make sure everything goes smoothly etc. It will have been a week of broodiness when the eggs arrive, so I'm debating putting them under her Tuesday and keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well with hatching while I'm away, vs waiting longer. I just don't want to risk her leaving the eggs before hatching time, I'm actually putting a little bit of money into this for some higher quality birds, and would like to give it the best chance possible.

I also have another broody who has eggs under her, but they are from two batches (labeled to tell the difference...) they were put in 3 or 4 days apart. How likely is it that she will set on the remaining eggs when the first "batch" is hatching? Do you think she will sense the chicks movement and stay on until they've all hatched if I keep her in a cage where she has everything she needs and less motivation to get off the eggs? These will be hatching while I'm gone regardless, it was a done deal...

Any advice would be welcome!

Personally, I'd go ahead and put them under her, and leave the chick care to her. They usually do fine -- and there's some chance that if she didn't, you wouldn't be there right at that moment, anyway. And Silkies usually make good mamas, or so I've read.

For the staggered hatch, the later eggs may very well not hatch. Once the mama takes the first chicks off the nest to eat, etc., she abandons any unhatched eggs. It's a close call with 3 or 4 days, though. The mama usually stays on the chicks for the first day or so, and may spend a lot of time with them under her even after they've eaten and drunk, particularly for the first few days -- so it could be she'll be there long enough to hatch the late ones. I'd just leave them and cross my fingers, myself.

Anyone else with any experience care to offer their input as well? Thanks!

I have limited experience with a broody. there is a whole thread for broodies in this section you can probably find more advice there.

My one broody stayed broody for 4-5 weeks but as she did this I was told she would probably break early. It depends on the chicken. Silkies are known for broodiness. If you wanted to be safe you could split the batch with the broody and an incubator.

Hi,

I had two broody Wyandottes and ordered eggs for the and set them 5 days apart due to the arrival times of the eggs. One of the girl who was set last quit them after a week. I have put her eggs under the other hen who seems very committed. What chance is there of the later eggs hatching given the 5 day gap?

An advice greatly received.