12 fertilized eggs? What now….

[GingerAndHerChicks]

Today I am picking up a dozen fertilized eggs from a local farm, unfortunately I wasn’t able to get half a dozen even though I expressed it’s for 1 broody silkie hen. They assured me that silkies can manage 12 eggs.

Any suggestions on how to properly introduce the eggs to the silkie hen?

I’m assuming the rate of success will be 50 percent at best, 6/12, it’ll be the silkies first time hatching eggs. She’s been very determined and we want to give her the chance to hatch some eggs.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Is she alone or in a coop?

 

[GingerAndHerChicks]

Is she alone or in a coop?

She is in a coop. With 4 other chickens.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

She is in a coop. With 4 other chickens.

Mark the eggs so you can tell them apart from others that might be laid there. Odds are she can cover them, especially if you make the nest nice and deep.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Give her her OWN separated nest. Otherwise, other hens will take over her nest to lay their eggs when she gets up for a break.
Also, a Silkie probably cannot cover 12 Large Fowl eggs. What will happen is, some will always be sticking out, and too cold. When she rotates them, it'll kill embryos a few at a time, because some eggs will always be too cold.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

It would be best if you just save 6 (in case some fail) and give her 6.

 

[GingerAndHerChicks]

It would be best if you just save 6 (in case some fail) and give her 6.

Should I incubate 6 on my own? Or leave them at room temperature for a week? Or how do I go about the other 6?

 

[GingerAndHerChicks]

Give her her OWN separated nest. Otherwise, other hens will take over her nest to lay their eggs when she gets up for a break.
Also, a Silkie probably cannot cover 12 Large Fowl eggs. What will happen is, some will always be sticking out, and too cold. When she rotates them, it'll kill embryos a few at a time, because some eggs will always be too cold.

I should have mentioned we’re in Colorado, so its pretty nice during day 45/50 F but night is 25 F. I thought about incubating 6 on my own in a incubator and give her 6…. Would that be a better option?

 

[Iluveggers]

I should have mentioned we’re in Colorado, so its pretty nice during day 45/50 F but night is 25 F. I thought about incubating 6 on my own in a incubator and give her 6…. Would that be a better option?

That sounds like a good idea. If you candle hers and have to remove a couple quitters, you could always move the eggs out of the incubator and under her.

 

[GingerAndHerChicks]

Just picked up the eggs, any guesses what breed they are?