First time hatching, what to expect when you're expecting?

[MamaNoccy]

My silkie has decided that she wants to try out this whole mothering thing, and after putting 8 eggs under her (4 of my own, 4 from a breeder) she looks to be sitting tight on them. My main concern is that sometimes when I check on her an egg seems to have slipped out from under her, warmish but definitely not so much as the others. I've moved it back under her for now, but should I even worry at all and just let her do the work? I'm just worried that it'll get too cold if she's not on it fully.

 

[MGG]

Can you mark that egg with a little pencil mark? A star, x, whatever. Then you'll know which one it is. She probably has too many eggs. You can try candling and see if there are any infertile or dead ones. Then you can pull one and give her more room. Ho many days has she been sitting on these? I would def be concerned about the egg not being as warm.

 

[cmom]

I had a broody many years ago that would only sit on one egg. She insisted on being broody so I have her a half dozen eggs to sit on. She would always push all but one egg out of the nest. I did take the eggs away from her and put them in an incubator and all hatched. I do mark the eggs too. One winter's day I had some eggs in an incubator and the power went out. When I checked the incubator, the temperature was 78. I was sure I had lost all of the chicks so I decided to candle. To my surprise I saw some movement. I got the temperature back up using a auto jump starter with an inverter. I still had a good hatch. Good luck and have fun...

 

[MamaNoccy]

Went to check on her this morning and she'd completely tossed it out of the nest and when I checked it I noticed it actually had some light cracking. My guess is that she knew that one was no good and wanted to get rid of it.

I've been candling the eggs but as we've only just started day 3 there's not much to see yet except on this one egg that I got from the breeder. I thought it had gone bad at first because I couldn't candle it all, but then noticed that if I hold it very specifically I can see in part of the egg but not all of it. There's veins starting to spread our in this one, do you guys think this one is actually further developed than what she told me?

 

[MGG]

That egg looks at least day 12. The one she was licking out is a dud, you can toss it

 

[MamaNoccy]

That egg looks at least day 12. The one she was licking out is a dud, you can toss it

Should I try and get an incubator for that egg in case when it hatches she abandons the others? I'm a bit sad about the dud but you can't win them all!

 

[MGG]

Should I try and get an incubator for that egg in case when it hatches she abandons the others? I'm a bit sad about the dud but you can't win them all!

Yeah you can. They are great to have on hand anyway, and you can always selk it if you don't need it

 

[aart]

Here's some great reading on broodies:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broody-hen-thread.496101/

..and on incubator hatching:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...gs-no-problem.1046313/page-5385#post-16540512

 

[MamaNoccy]

Yeah you can. They are great to have on hand anyway, and you can always selk it if you don't need it

I've been trying to find a secondhand one for a while now, but google won't stop promoting me those yellow top ones that I've heard are no good (though the lady who's advertising says she's got a 70% hatch rate, it's only $18 so I'll admit I'm tempted). I'm trying to convince my husband to let me buy the Janoel 12 or something similar.

 

[MGG]

I have the Janoel 12. It isn't as well known as brinsea or little giant, etc. but I wouldn't trade that incubator for anything. I love it