do I have a confused silkie?

[beameuplord]

Hi, I have a young silkie hen that doesn't seem to know what to do. since I am new at this I don't either, (lol). Early April she laid a couple eggs in one of my rabbit hutches instead of her nest. I placed them in her nest but she never set them so I collected them and two others she laid during the week. then I read that I could hold them for up to seven days so I put the four of them back in her nest, but she did not set on the. I finally took them away, and she laid a couple more a week later and started setting continuously April 15th. May 5th was 21 days and they did not hatch. Today is 25 days and I guess it is time to give up. I wonder if they may have gotten chilled before she actually started setting. It was pretty cold here Western NC), at night in mid April. Should I just remove her and take the eggs? Then will I have to isolate her to keep her away from her nest? She is very broody. I don't know if she is too young (about 10 mos old), or does'nt understand what to do. After this spell of setting does it usually take a while before they start laying again. I am dying for some chicks and it breaks my heart that she has set so faithfully for almost a month with nothing to show for it.
Thanks for your input. I am new at this and it is hard to find any specific information online.


TJ

 

[eggchel]

Ummmmmm, do you think that she spent enough quality time with your rooster to ensure that her eggs were fertile?
Before you throw the eggs out, you should candle them to see if there was any development. Sometimes silkies need their vent feathers trimmed to help with fertility (both males and females).

You can buy a few newly hatched chicks at the feed store and put them under her for her to adopt and raise.



chel

Note:
You can candle eggs with a strong flashlight in a dark room. Hold the flashlight with your hand clasped around the top to create a funnel for the light, then hold the egg against that hand so the light goes thru the egg. You will be able to see if the egg is clear (undeveloped) or has some stage of development, from just veins to an egg full of chick.

 

[beameuplord]

thanks chel,

I am positive the rooster got to her, many times, but whether or not he is fertile is another question.

I appreciate your input. I may see if I can locate a couple chicks for her. That is a good idea. I don't know who has postpartum worse, me or her. :~)

later, TJ