Broody Silikes

[greginshasta]

2 of our silkies became broody a few weeks ago. Each are sitting on a combination of standard and silkie eggs. Is the gestation period still 21 days? They have been sitting, I'm certain, for more than that. Is it possible that those tiny little bodies are too small to warm 4 eggs? Do I remove a couple and hope that with less eggs something hatches, or just wait?


By "still 21 days" I am referring to silkies versus full size hens. Is there any difference in the getstation period?

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

My silkies take 19-21 days depending. They usually sit on 8 eggs at a time. I have gotten anywhere from 4-5 hatch. Most of the unhatched were duds anyway. I'd give them another little bit and see what happens.

Good luck!

 

[NoseyChickens]

My silkie is broody. Today is day 21. She had 2 eggs to start out with and kicked one out that was clear when I candled it. Have you candled the eggs? That should help you decide if things are going as they should.

 

[greginshasta]

ok, cool. thanks. I almost fell over laughing when I discovered that the little buff silkie had horded 8 eggs and was sitting on them. Little piggie. Silly girl.

 

[DaiquiriDuck]

We had 10 eggs in the bator and 2 under a silkie hen. The other hen got jealous and so we took 6 more eggs out and gave them 4 eggs each.

2 out of 4 in the bator hatched (two late deaths) six out of 8 hatched under the hens (2 seemed infertile/dud) ..... I think silkies are experts

good luck on the hatch!!
Took the girls about 21-22 days to hatch them all as it was quite cold out!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Oh yeah. Silkies are little, pilfering thieves when it comes to eggs. I had one sitting on her own eggs AND taking in the half-grown babies of another hen at night. Silly chickens.

 

[greginshasta]

ya, the black one was sitting for a few days and the buff got the idea that she didn't want to be left out of the deal. Should be funny when the chicks end up being twice the size of "mom".