How long is too long to set eggs under a broody?

[NightFury06]

Hiya! I have a broody Silkie (of course) who I’d love to set some eggs under, however the place I was meant to get fertilised eggs from didn’t have any. Therefore I had to get some in the post, which has taken longer than anticipated.
Frodo (the broody) has sat for, I believe, a week and a half? It may be slightly more or less.
Is it worth the risk of setting them under her, or should I try them all under the incubator?
Many thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If she's still determined to sit (She's broody), then I'd put the eggs under her if you have them in hand.

Do make sure she's eating/drinking daily, check her for lice and mites frequently.

Good luck with your hatch.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Would not hurt to have an incubator available in case she does get off the eggs early.

 

[Ridgerunner]

With living animals you do not get guarantees. Anything can happen. In your situation if you want her to hatch I'd risk it and expect success.

Before they even start to lay the hens build up excess fat in the body cavity. This excess fat is mostly what they live off of while broody. That way they can spend the majority of time on their nest taking care of the eggs instead of needing to be off of the nest looking for food. Different hens store up different amounts of fat. Some come off of the nest and eat more than others. When they run out of stored fat is when most broody hens will break from being broody. For most of them that is more than five weeks.

Good luck if you try it.

 

[NightFury06]

If she's still determined to sit (She's broody), then I'd put the eggs under her if you have them in hand.

Do make sure she's eating/drinking daily, check her for lice and mites frequently.

Good luck with your hatch.

Thank you very much!

 

[NightFury06]

With living animals you do not get guarantees. Anything can happen. In your situation if you want her to hatch I'd risk it and expect success.

Before they even start to lay the hens build up excess fat in the body cavity. This excess fat is mostly what they live off of while broody. That way they can spend the majority of time on their nest taking care of the eggs instead of needing to be off of the nest looking for food. Different hens store up different amounts of fat. Some come off of the nest and eat more than others. When they run out of stored fat is when most broody hens will break from being broody. For most of them that is more than five weeks.

Good luck if you try it.

Thank you!

 

[NightFury06]

Would not hurt to have an incubator available in case she does get off the eggs early.

Thanks for your reply!