So, two questions:
I have 7 Silkie hens in different pens and only one hen has become broody for the moment. She actually hatched her first egg this morning!
1. When will my other silkie hens become broody? They have all been laying eggs for a good 1,5 month / 2 months. I kept collecting all the eggs because Iām waiting on an incubator, but it seems it wonāt be here anytime soon. Also, i would love to see the hens raise some babies of their own. Do I need to stop collecting the eggs for them to become broody?
2. My one broody silkie hen has hatched 1 of her first chicks this morning, itās amazingly cute. But fastforward 10 hours later, no other chicks yet. I will give her till Monday to let the other eggs hatch, but if by then they havenāt hatched I will take them away so she starts to take care of the one chick she already has. Last time I candled them was Sunday I believe and all but one, weāre developed pretty far. So they are viable. Is there anything I can do now to see if the chicks are pipping? How do I handle the eggs? Or is it of the utmost important that I let the eggs be?
Would appreciate any advice!
Photo my first partridge silkie chick!
I have 7 Silkie hens in different pens and only one hen has become broody for the moment. She actually hatched her first egg this morning!
1. When will my other silkie hens become broody? They have all been laying eggs for a good 1,5 month / 2 months. I kept collecting all the eggs because Iām waiting on an incubator, but it seems it wonāt be here anytime soon. Also, i would love to see the hens raise some babies of their own. Do I need to stop collecting the eggs for them to become broody?
2. My one broody silkie hen has hatched 1 of her first chicks this morning, itās amazingly cute. But fastforward 10 hours later, no other chicks yet. I will give her till Monday to let the other eggs hatch, but if by then they havenāt hatched I will take them away so she starts to take care of the one chick she already has. Last time I candled them was Sunday I believe and all but one, weāre developed pretty far. So they are viable. Is there anything I can do now to see if the chicks are pipping? How do I handle the eggs? Or is it of the utmost important that I let the eggs be?
Would appreciate any advice!
Photo my first partridge silkie chick!