Adoption??

[GlitterKitty]

We have one hen, Primrose, sitting on one egg. The dad is a mix between standard and bantam so he's 'medium' and the mom is standard. I doubt the egg is fertile but we have 10 days left for incubation (it's due to hatch April 10th). I candled it and I saw a dark blob so maybe it is fertile, but how long do I wait after the hatching date to see if it is? And also after that period of time and if it's not fertile could I buy a couple day old chicks and slip them under her? Will she kill them? The egg she's sitting on is not her own, she is bantam sized. I'd like her to actually have some chicks instead of pretty much wasting 21 days sitting on an infertile egg. Thanks

 

[paddock36]

Sounds like the egg is developing from what you described, but if you want extra chicks I would slip a couple under her when it's hatch time and she is still setting on the egg.

 

[clucky2]

My little silkie sat on wooden eggs for about a month. I got some chicks from the feed store and slipped them under her after her bedtime with great success. They're about 31/2 weeks now and it's all love.