I think my lil Silkie is egg bound....

[Miss Lydia]

this is what another poster said that has more experience than I do:

Hopefully she will eventually give up and come out on her own. Since she's already been setting around 3 weeks, I wouldn't try to add fertile eggs at this point. Broodiness is a bit hard on them, they lose weight and muscle tone. The ideal solution would be to slip a few chicks from the feed store under her. She'd think her eggs hatched, and get up and start mothering, almost always, I think. It's certainly worked for me. Might be a bit difficult since she went under further, though. I wonder if she would be drawn out by a few chicks placed where you can reach and she can hear them. Or a favorite treat and then the chicks. They don't necessarily give up just because it's been 21 days. I would probably be out buying chicks.
An assortment of large fowl chickens ranging in age from about 3 years to chicks hatched in 2011 by a broody, and the dogs and cat who run with them.


the parts about the broodiness being hard on them, is a good point.

 

[Sheepy]

Hi!
Usually chickens that have just begun to lay eggs don't lay one everyday.
When my 3 speckled sussex hens layed their first eggs, they layed very tiny ones maybe once a week, then they stopped for 2 months! But they have been laying nice eggs everyday now.
You just have to be patient, their egg production organs aren't fully established, so they won't lay eggs regularly for a while.
She isn't sick or anything, so you don't have to give her baths and treats, but she might get cranky if you stop!

Have fun with your new little egg layer!

 

[vfem]

Let her sit for the 21 days and then just take the eggs away. She'll come out of it after a couple days them not being there because she's finished her brood. I've had to do this before when I had no real eggs available to give. Though they are much happier if real chicks pop up.

This is also a good chance to get more chicks and have her raise them. Just take the eggs at 21 weeks at night, and replace with chicks you may get from the feed store or online.

Just a thought!

 

[StephanieD]

We have decided to get some fertile eggs, they should hatch around Tuesday. We are going to get them this afternoon! How very exciting! I hope I know what I am getting myself into. I have looked around the forum for info on "natural" chick raising. From what I understand there is not much I need to do for the chicks, mom will do all that. Any suggestions for me? Many, many thanks. I love this forum!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Congratulations, most chickens make excellent mothers and I understand silkies are one of the best, so please let us know how it goes and of course pictures are always welcome!!

 

[StephanieD]

I know how to download the picture but how do I post them here on this page?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am terrible at giving directions and have you so confused you'd never be able to do it, but if you'll go to the index at the top of page and click it you'll find step buy step instructions..

 

[StephanieD]

Quote:
I figured it out! Thank you.

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[Sheepy]

One thing you could do to help a hen laying eggs is to give her some food and water next to her nest. They'll sit on their eggs 24/7, usually never getting up for themselves.