From incubator to broody...need assistance

[WyoChickenMamma]

I have two incubators that are full, with some staggered batches. Today I noticed that one of my hens has decided to be broody. This is her first time, so I want to give her a few days and see if she is really serious or just testing the waters. I have 5 silkie/showgirl eggs that are at day 9. So my question is after I determine if she is serious and will set, can I give her those eggs that are already developing?

 

[moomoodiddy]

i dont see why not. probably should put fake eggs under her to know if she is really serious and so it wont scare her when you do put the real ones in there

 

[nurse_turtle]

Sure can. Sounds wonderful. I had one go broody for the first time but changed her mind for a few days and then went for it. I wasn't sure she was serious so I only gave her 1 of her own eggs. Now 9 weeks later, that baby still follows her around even though she weaned him 3 weeks ago.

 

[WyoChickenMamma]

She is still sitting in that box this morning. I was gone over the weekend, so I am not sure really how long she has been sitting in a box. I noticed yesterday when she puffed up, growled and gave me the stink eye when I was collecting eggs. So today I am going to monitor her and tonight I will attempt to move her to a safer place in the coop with some of the other gals eggs. If she continues to sit on them then perhaps tomorrow night I will give her the fertile eggs.

 

[WyoChickenMamma]

Okay tonight I moved her from a general population nesting box to a crate in the coop. She seemed to take to that just fine. If she continues to sit there with them tomorrow and into the evening I will give her some eggs from my bator.

So my question is I have at least three, possibly up to 5 silkie eggs to give her. I think it will probably only be three...I will candle again tomorrow night before I give them to her. So I also have a dozen BCM eggs that are on the same hatching schedule as the silkies...do you think I could give her a few of them too or is the egg size difference an issue...I just wonder if the Marans are too big in comparison to the silkie ones and she wont have as much skin contact with the smaller eggs????? Or should I give her about 5 of the Marans and keep the silkies in my incubator? It is hard to candle the Marans, so I am not sure where Is stand with those 12...they are all on day 10 or 11 now.

Any advice would be great.

 

[Nsampsel]

A good broody can hatch anything including peacocks...LOL Give her whatever you don't want to deal with in the brooder. Just make sure her body is big enuf to cover all the eggs when she snuggles down on them.

 

[WyoChickenMamma]

I am concerned about her....I still have not given her the fertile eggs. This morning she was back in a nesting box and another hen was on her eggs...laying another one. So I am not sure if she was letting that hen add to the bunch or if she had been run off. The crate is quite large and I could lock her in there on the fertile eggs...there would be plenty of room for her to move about, stretch and have food and water. Or I could just let her continue to sit on these eggs and then give her the babies as they hatch in the incubator. Guess at this point, there is no big rush and I can give her a few days to see really how serious she is before I decide one way or another. The best part about her hatching them is that they are already integrated into the flock by her, and less in the brooder.