How many eggs will a Skilie lay before she starts sitting on them

[Aliciabeck07]

Y Skilies started laying about 2 weeks ago. I'm pretty sure they are sharing nest we have 4 hens. So far there are 9 eggs in one nest and 11 eggs in the other but none of the Hens are sitting on them.

 

[TattooedChicks]

The number isn’t the big deciding factor, it’s all about horomones. Only broody birds will sit on clutches to hatch, and young birds do not typically go super broody from the get go. They’ll play with the idea for a bit and may even eventually practice some of the behaviors. Some broodies want to hoard as many eggs as they can, others will sit on nothing if the urge is strong enough.

Pretty much, they will sit when they darn well feel like it.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

Like what TattooedChicks said above, it really just depends on the bird. You'll have to wait and see or see if you can encourage broodiness somehow.

 

[bobbieschicks]

My best Silkie started being a momma practically the day she hatched. Just kidding, she has been such a great broody. Can't remember a time she wasn't trying to hatch something, anything!

She usually lays for about a week and then wants to hatch eggs. She's five years old now and still tries to get in the nest of other broody girls to hatch. It doesn't take much to make her broody, if I slip an egg or chick under her, she usually will flip the broody switch to on.

That said, she's not typical of my other Silkie chick experience. The other Silkie I had previously must have been born with that switch stuck in the off position because she just would not go broody and she only laid eggs occasionally. She was sadly killed by a hawk while free ranging with the flock.

My second best broody was a Silkie mix (part Silkie, part white leghorn/EE) I called Vanilla Ice. She was a strange little girl but she too could flip on her broody switch with just a hint of fake eggs in the nest. Unfortunately she was murdered by my lab mix puppy when she escaped the safety of the enclosed run and he was loose.

 

[Aliciabeck07]

My best Silkie started being a momma practically the day she hatched. Just kidding, she has been such a great broody. Can't remember a time she wasn't trying to hatch something, anything!

She usually lays for about a week and then wants to hatch eggs. She's five years old now and still tries to get in the nest of other broody girls to hatch. It doesn't take much to make her broody, if I slip an egg or chick under her, she usually will flip the broody switch to on.

That said, she's not typical of my other Silkie chick experience. The other Silkie I had previously must have been born with that switch stuck in the off position because she just would not go broody and she only laid eggs occasionally. She was sadly killed by a hawk while free ranging with the flock.

My second best broody was a Silkie mix (part Silkie, part white leghorn/EE) I called Vanilla Ice. She was a strange little girl but she too could flip on her broody switch with just a hint of fake eggs in the nest. Unfortunately she was murdered by my lab mix puppy when she escaped the safety of the enclosed run and he was loose.

We have 11 eggs in one nest and 22 in the other we have caught two of our hens sitting on them in the last week. But I'm not sure how long/ often they are sitting on them.

 

[Bryam]

Yup, there isn't a connection between leaving eggs pileup and the hen going broody. I would incubate the eggs if you really want chicks now.