- Apr 13, 2009
- 155
- 3
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One of my Silkie hens has been setting eggs since early May, and i knew the eggs should be hatching soon. I looked under her today and found an egg completely destroyed, with a hatchling still covered in membrane. I removed the egg, suspecting the hen had done it, since I had a Buff Orpington a couple of years ago that killed all of her chicks--then readily adopted some day-old chicks that I put under her.
Tonight I went out to check again, and sure enough, another egg had been destroyed and the chick was still enfolded in membrane and very dead. At that point I took the eggs into the house, being careful not to turn them, put them on a towel in a box with a hooded light over them and a digital thermometer lead on top of the eggs. The temperature is at 97.7 degrees right now, and I'm not sure I can get it any higher. I also put a wet sponge in there to provide humidity.
What are the chances I can get a hatch out of these eggs?
I have another Silkie that hatched out three chicks last week, then abandoned the rest of the eggs. What are the chances of her adopting any new hatchlings if I put them under her at night?
If there's anything I haven't thought of to ensure these eggs hatch, please feel free to tell me, too.
Tonight I went out to check again, and sure enough, another egg had been destroyed and the chick was still enfolded in membrane and very dead. At that point I took the eggs into the house, being careful not to turn them, put them on a towel in a box with a hooded light over them and a digital thermometer lead on top of the eggs. The temperature is at 97.7 degrees right now, and I'm not sure I can get it any higher. I also put a wet sponge in there to provide humidity.
What are the chances I can get a hatch out of these eggs?
I have another Silkie that hatched out three chicks last week, then abandoned the rest of the eggs. What are the chances of her adopting any new hatchlings if I put them under her at night?
If there's anything I haven't thought of to ensure these eggs hatch, please feel free to tell me, too.