how many eggs can a bantam hen cover?

[bassfishrman]

I am placing fertile eggs from my Rhode Island Red under my broody bantam. How many eggs should she be able to cover and hatch? right now, there are 5 Rhode Island Eggs under he and she seems fine.
Thanks in advance!

 

[hinkjc]

I'd probably stick with the 5 and not offer any more. As long as she can keep those covered, you're good. If you add more, you risk her pushing some out (into the cold). You also don't want to offer them staggered, cuz when it comes to hatch time, she'll leave the nest when 'she' thinks its done...regardless of when you added more eggs. Good luck with her. I hope she hatches for you.

Jody

 

[pipermark]

Ok Lets expand on this, how many silkie eggs can a silkie sit on and get a good hatch?

 

[TheBigWRanch]

Right now I have a Japanese hen sitting on 20 bantam eggs and she is doing fine, but I don't think any more would fit. I'll have to wait and see how many hatch.

 

[hinkjc]

Wild species lay for about 12-14 days before setting on their nest. So I would say whatever the bird can lay in 12-14 days is what they could sit on safely. Bantams can handle that quantity of bantam eggs and standard on standard eggs. But when you get into putting bantam eggs under standards and vice versa, the safe amount changes. You should not be able to see any eggs when she is sitting. If you can see them poking thru, there are too many and they are not getting proper heat/coverage.

Jody