Do Silkies have low fertility?

[wegotchickens]

Cracking the eggs to check fertillity after they've 'cooked' for a while is extrememly difficult. The yolk is very fragile by then. If you try it, hold them in a plate or bowl and gently tap with the edge of a spoon to crack, then slide the shell open veeeeerrry carefully. If the bullseye isn't on top you probably won't see it, because the yolk won't hold together long enough to roll it over.

Been there, done that.

I generally only ordered shipped eggs from someone within a state or two of myself, because at greater distances there was an extreme drop in viability. Can you find someone closer to you with eggs?

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Silkies can have fertility issues. Last year when I first started setting my silkie eggs to hatch for myself, the fertility was very poor. I went out and trimmed up everybodys butt fluff, and the next batch was 100% fertile. So now I keep them trimmed during the breeding season. Back when I had pet quality/hatchery birds the eggs were always fertile, probably because the birds weren't nearly as fluffy as these.

ETA: Also, shipped hatching eggs is a gamble. I hatched eggs last summer from WA and I belive it was 6 or 7 out of 13 hatched. Got eggs from VA and none developed at all.

 

[The Fairy Godmartyr]

I have ten hens of varying breeds and two roos that are both silkies. Every egg I have checked (including my silkie hen) has been fertilized. So my silkie boys seem to be able to get the job done.

I'm with the other posters--cold weather and jostling probably are the culprits.

 

[cozycritters]

I def. need local eggs, I'm just having a hard time finding any. I can buy chicks from a lady in Marana who hatches, but I don't bond as much with those as I do when I am their 'mama', you know?

Previously I've had really good luck with shipped eggs. I'm thinking the seasons are really an issue-- though the weather is perfect here now, it's not anywhere else

. I know that I have ordered eggs in the summer and that was a total disaster as far as hatch rates go. It's just too hot here. (I got eggs on a day that was 110...)

 

[cozycritters]

I candled all of the eggs yesterday and here's what I have:

24 assorted silkie eggs from PA:
2 def. developing

21 BBS silkie eggs from IA:
6 def. developing

I also have three '?' where I am not sure if they are developing or just weird

Last night was day 10. I am not weeding any eggs out at this point and I will keep and eye out for any more action.

 

[babymakes6]

Good luck! Honestly, don't feel too bad about it-we've all been there at some point or other!

 

[cozycritters]

I'm just happy to see how healthy the developing ones are-- despite the fact that they were only about the size of a pea they were moving around-- it was pretty neat