Breeding

[OvoX]

Hi guys.
I wish to be breeding a RIR roooster with a Silkie hen. I chose this combination because I am aware that Silkies make a fantastic broody.
I know how to get her broody.
But I was wondering when she gets broody do I put the cockerel in with her or do I mate them first and store the eggs somewhere and when she gets broody put them under her?.
I know its a long question but I am a beginner and need some good advice.

Thank you.

 

[ChickenerMan]

The eggs wont keep that long because the hatching rate will go down i would have them together all the time and buy a incubator (with a clear lid so you can watch them hatch

) then let her go broody by herself. To help her go broody have about 10 eggs(mark them with a vivid) in the nest that should encourage her then when she goes broody put fresh ones under her.

P.S don't eat the 10 marked eggs because the vivid could soak into the shell and don't use the marked eggs to hatch either.
I find a vivid is best because it clearly marks them so you can collect fresh eggs and leave the rest. Some people use pencil but i found that pencil rubs of really easily.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

What is a vivid?

 

[ChickenerMan]

lol im from New Zealand

and here we call a marker pen a vivid. Look on google 'sharpie marker'

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Marker or sharpie I would have understood LOL Interesting have small things affect language and communication!

 

[donrae]

I use sharpies on my eggs under my broody hens all the time and never had an issue. I like that I can draw a nice visible line all the way around the egg, so I can just raise the broody's bum and see if there are any bonus eggs under her, without having to pick each egg up and check for markings.