Do i need an incubator?

[silkie mum]

Hi im totally new at this and not sure what to do we have 6 silkies at least 3 i know are girls and 2 im pretty sure are boys and i TBA. Today i saw one of the boys on top of a girl and not sure what to expect from here.
1. how do i know if an egg is fertalised?
2. can i leave it up to the mum to hatch it?
3. do i need to seperate any of the chickens?
etc....
Thanks alot
Silkie Mum

 

[fried green eggs]

Hi &

Glad you decided to join us. If you only have a few hens and a rooster or two your eggs will probably be fertile. The eggs will not start to develop unless the hens sits on them and keeps them covered pretty much 24/7 for the next 21 days, minus time to eat,drink and poop. Some breeds go Broody (want to sit on eggs and have chicks) They sometimes will start and stop before the 21 days and then eggs the hen started will stop developing. Young pullet (young hen) eggs are small so chicks from them will be very small.
You can just eat the eggs. Collect them daily and they will not start developing. Fresh eggs are the Best !!!

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