How many eggs can she sit on?

[wannabe_goatmom]

My Salmon Faverolles Pullet is 9 months old and she has gone broody. She was stunted as a chick and so she is kind of on the small side. I am going to get her some Silkie eggs to sit on. My question is since this is her first time and she is young and kind of small how many eggs can she sit on?
When I give her the eggs should I separate her from everyone else? She is at the bottom of the pecking order and I'm afraid they may hurt her or the eggs.
Thanks

Billie Jo

 

[Guitartists]

I believe 10 is the normal number of eggs a hen lays before sitting...... but the egg must be the right size for the hen

So if she is closer to bantam size... I would say 8-10 small eggs....you just want to make sure she can comfortably cover them all

 

[wannabe_goatmom]

Thanks! They sell either 12 or 6 eggs so I guess I'll get 6 and see how she does.

 

[Guitartists]

If they are being shipped, you could opt for 12 as some may get scrambled during shipping.You can candle and chose the best of them.

 

[wannabe_goatmom]

They aren't being shipped they are only about 15 minutes or so away.
Do you think I should separate them or just let her stay in her favorite nest box? The other girls prefer one of the other boxes to lay in but "hers" is right beside it and I wasn't sure if they would pick on her or not.

 

[Guitartists]

I've only had two broodies.... I ended up separating them from the rest after the first chick hatched got picked to death by the other hens

 

[wannabe_goatmom]

Thanks..you have been so much help. I have a chicken hutch I can put her in after they hatch. I am using it as a brooder now for some week old chicks I bought. My husband is going to die when he finds out I'm buying eggs for her since I just bought new chicks last week. LOL

 

[Camelot Farms]

I have a silkie broody and I had 10 eggs under her. 3 kept popping out...lol.
So, now she has 7 and the other 3 are in the bator. I am hoping that they will hatch at the same time and I can slip them in there without her noticing...

 

[wannabe_goatmom]

I hope that works. I thought about putting the ones I brought home from the store on Monday under her but then I was afraid she might kill them so I decided to just get her some eggs.