hatching silkies?

[cartersmith]

Why are silkies so hard to hatch? i had a batch of 6 which failed to hatched seemed most died early on then had another batch of 6 and the same happened now i have a batch of 8 4 of which were infertile and 2 which died early on the other 2 are in lockdown today. i candled them before lockdown 1 was definantly moving unsure on the other one.
why are they so hard????

 

[midwestchickenwrangler]

I'm not sure if they are harder to hatch, I have not tried to hatch any other breed. Sorry no help there. I have noticed that when I incubate, not all of the eggs hatch. They all seem to start developing, then some quit here and there. I have silkies that I know are very fertile (I have 1 roo with 2 hens) and have not had any eggs not develop in incubation. I would be willing to GIVE you eggs if you wanted to pay the $15 for shipping. I hate hearing a fellow BYC member getting frustrated spending money to incubate eggs that don't hatch, I've been there and know the feeling.

 

[bluere11e]

I agree,

I've hatched all different kinds of eggs and I find the most difficult to hatch are silkies and certain pheasant. Howver, stick silkie eggs under a silkie and youll get a 100% hatch.. It seems to me that maybe they are a little bit more temperamental?. It could be me.. I don't treat them any different than any other birds.
Go figure..

 

[horseyjess]

You know I am having the SAME problem. I have had a few batches of eggs and only one or two not fertile or develop. I have got 2 batches of silkies and with one had 12 eggs and only 5 started to develop and then 8 eggs and only 3 have started. The others got 16 Welsummers with only 1 not start and 1 quitter, got 12 Polish with only 2 not start and no quitters. Have 12 Cochin and only 3 not start.. Grrrrr

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

I had 6 eggs in and only one hatched. It was my first time hatching eggs and I was disappointed that only one hatched. I love my 4 day old silkie but it needs siblings. I am not sure if I want to hatch again. I also cant find any silkie chicks right now for my baby.

 

[jenlynn4]

I have found that silkies prefer lower humidity actually.....I keep mine between 35-45% durring incubation and then up it to 65-70% durring hatch...I just hatched out 16 chicks from 17 eggs! It seems to work for me.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I have only hatched 4 times (once with a broody and three times with an incubator). Two of my hatches were silkies. I didn't find them harder to hatch than the other breeds.

Check your temp, humidity, etc.

Brinsea.com has a free downloadable incubation handbook that I recommend.

 

[cartersmith]

well my temp and humidity must be okay as i have hatched 8 other chicks of different breed this is why i dont know why they wont hatch.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
No clue then, sorry!

 

[fishinchicken]

I put my first batch of 8 Silkie eggs into the incubator yesterday...I know that I should candle at like 10 days right? If there is no movement, take them out or just leave them? What if because I am knew I screw up...I will be so upset. i'm pretty sure mine are fertile bc i've seen by boys and girls being "social". Also, what is "bloom" of the egg?