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Depends on when they were laid not when they went under gigi and fifi. Unless they went dormant or from an incubator maybe you should calculate faster or later depending on how cold they got. Cheers, best of luck

Very nice. She still sitting on all of them I hope. Congrats.

Sorry about that. Terrible news. Now you know. At least you got the dates right. That is so important cause you never know when hens start adding eggs and you don't know what is going on. I am sure you will do better next spring.

not a silly question, and how many chicks are you getting her to raise? 11 plus?, you need another broody or an incubator. home made with plastic tote and heat lamp. there is many posts about this earlier. age wise 7 days is the outside maximum difference but I am use to small broods of 3...

Do you shut the door at night because rats and raccoons have no problem eating through chicken wire. They also dig under it to get in so 1/4 inch hardware material buried against the fence. down 3 inches and outwards a foot maybe. Do I have to mention they can also climb it and chew through...

They can stay outside when they are fully feathered but need to be with the broody. If the coop is predator proof is another important requirement. They cannot fend off rodents and snakes. The roos though protective may not be fast enough when asleep. Also, temp requirements for their age>...

Sure, I don't think they mind what you mark on them. Just make sure of the dates. You may have bought them eggs so I guess that day plus 3 weeks later and your done for now. You could listen for peeps before the 21st day. Tell us how you are doing. I am not sure of silkie gestation periods...

I did not trust any pen so I marked with pencil on the ends where they wont get much friction since they lay length wise. A simple X or O would do then mark on your calendar what day that means.

I followed the thread this year and it is awesome.

Without a thermometer you wont know if you are burning them. Why take the risk?

No temp readings? wow you are a real cowboy. good luck

I use the sunroom in the house with a wire dog kennel. No building included. Also, I would put them in a pen on the ground as soon as their little bodies can handle the weather, with a Ma no problem. Also, have a rabbit cage on the balcony for fresh air and sunshine which I have to monitor...

You are putting words in my mouth. Never said I did not want chicks. She was a first time broody and I never had the experience of Ma tearing the guts out or scalping chicks before. It was horrendous for them and me don't you get it. I was answering another's question about having a new...

No, I am just saying that is how I felt. She is not a problem unless she hatches eggs. She is doing a job right now on duck eggs. I just can't handle any more massacres and I have become more rational now.

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From my humbling experience, you never know unless she is a proven broody and that takes alot of courage on the part of the chick. So since mine were killed by accident or not on the first day I would let them hatch in the incubator and give them to her on the second or third day when they need...

TO Faraday40 oh, ohhh. You aren't counting your eggs before they hatch are you? LOL funny story, thank you

How would you clean an egg under a brooding hen when she defecated on it and it has dried and hardened. I guess the membrane coating is going to be destroyed if you clean it and bacteria is going to kill the chick if you don't? Anyone had this happen and what was the resulting hatch like...

Oh, I knew she was a hen. There are just so many black hens running around now I thought it appropriate for at least one.

IMPORTANT read this on impacted crop. Says to use epsom salts and dulcolax. the salts will kill bacteria build up which can kill the bird and is also a laxative for the whole GI tract. Dulcolax is also a laxative. Dulcolax-S is like Senecot. read the article to get measurements. I am sure...