Broody dilemma - split or not?

[Chicalina]

I've got a broody bantam silkie hen sitting on 13 eggs of various breeds (OEG, sebright, serama). She is covering the eggs ok just about, but is pushed to her maximum I reckon. Natrually, I'm not expecting all to hatch, and will remove any infertile eggs in about a week, so by that time I expect she won't be raising a brood of 13. Though it could be close to that number, who knows. She is on day 3 and is a committed and proven broody.

My pullet has just gone broody this week too. She is 9 months old and has been laying for a couple of months. She is a silkie polish cross.

I'm thinking....Would it be a good idea to split the clutch and give the pullet half the eggs? I have space for another broody pen, and I'll integrate them quite early into the flock anyway.

But...she is young, unproven and I don't want to waste good eggs (which I spent good money on and drove a 4 hour round trip to collect).

Am I overthinking this?

Should I leave the whole clutch with the silkie and stop meddling?

(I could buy more eggs, but please stop me)

 

[Yardmom]

I would split the eggs . I would worry that with 13 eggs the Silkie would have eggs that are getting cold. Each egg that is cold too long could stop. With the way the hen rotates the eggs, all the eggs could quit.

 

[Chicalina]

She is covering them all fine so far. They are tiny eggs and she's flat and keeping even the edge ones warm. But I know it's a risk. So is the other option, hence my dilemma!

 

[Vickischics]

She is covering them all fine so far. They are tiny eggs and she's flat and keeping even the edge ones warm. But I know it's a risk. So is the other option, hence my dilemma!

That is a lot of eggs for your silkie to keep an even temp on all of them at all times and her poor undercarriage will be raw!! Plus she will need to rotate them and I'd bet you'll loose some during that process because your having her incubate so many eggs. Since you asked, I'd take my chances and put faith in your Pullet, she may surprise you. You chose to Travel 4 hours round trip for eggs and that still doesn't guarantee your eggs will be quality anyway. So, I vote give your Pullet a chance. Check on her throughout the day. If problems arise, remove them.
Your over thinking this.

 

[Chicalina]

That is a lot of eggs for your silkie to keep an even temp on all of them at all times and her poor undercarriage will be raw!! Plus she will need to rotate them and I'd bet you'll loose some during that process because your having her incubate so many eggs. Since you asked, I'd take my chances and put faith in your Pullet, she may surprise you. You chose to Travel 4 hours round trip for eggs and that still doesn't guarantee your eggs will be quality anyway. So, I vote give your Pullet a chance. Check on her throughout the day. If problems arise, remove them.
Your over thinking this.

Thanks for your reply. This was a few weeks ago, and all was fine. I candled and removed the infertile ones so the silkie was only sitting on 10 after a few days. She covered them well because they were so small.

For my pullet, I got some more eggs! She hatched babies of her own and is proving to be a super mama, despite her age. Very devoted!