Incubating Shipped Silkie Eggs

[FC16]

So I’ve had 12 shipped Silkie eggs arrive today and am planning on starting incubating them tomorrow. I’m not very experienced and am planning on updating the process on this thread for anyone interested. Before i start I have a ton of questions if anyone wouldn’t mind answering

1. They arrived around 10am today and are now resting in an egg carton, I’m planning putting them in around 10pm tonight so that tomorrow can be Day 1, is this long enough for them to rest?
2. I’m planning on marking them for turning purposes, is a Sharpie marker okay or dangerous?
3. Is turning them 3 times a day enough?(im doing it by hand)
4. What humidity would you recommend for these eggs in UK November time?
5. I’ve heard people don’t turn them for the first threedays sometimes, should I do this? Or is it not necessary?
6. Bit of a random one, but like I said, I’m new, as far as I was aware they are not bantam Silkies these eggs, but they seem very small. Are all Silkie eggs naturally small?

I know I probably sound stupid but I still don’t know much. If anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated

 

[AgnesGray]

So I’ve had 12 shipped Silkie eggs arrive today and am planning on starting incubating them tomorrow. I’m not very experienced and am planning on updating the process on this thread for anyone interested. Before i start I have a ton of questions if anyone wouldn’t mind answering

1. They arrived around 10am today and are now resting in an egg carton, I’m planning putting them in around 10pm tonight so that tomorrow can be Day 1, is this long enough for them to rest?
2. I’m planning on marking them for turning purposes, is a Sharpie marker okay or dangerous?
3. Is turning them 3 times a day enough?(im doing it by hand)
4. What humidity would you recommend for these eggs in UK November time?
5. I’ve heard people don’t turn them for the first threedays sometimes, should I do this? Or is it not necessary?
6. Bit of a random one, but like I said, I’m new, as far as I was aware they are not bantam Silkies these eggs, but they seem very small. Are all Silkie eggs naturally small?

I know I probably sound stupid but I still don’t know much. If anyone has any advice it would be much appreciatedView attachment 2892947

1. That should be long enough to rest, but... consider that they will likely start hatching at around the time that you set them... three weeks from now. If there are delays or any that you need to keep an eye on it may run into the night. That could work perfectly well for you, but I am past the age of enjoying a late-night hatch.
2. I have used a sharpie with no problems.
3. Turning three times daily is good. Whatever amount you choose, if they are laying on their sides, turn an odd number of times so they don't spend overnight on the same side as the night before.
4. Humidity of about 40-45% works for many people in many places, but maybe someone in your area will come along with better specifics on that.
5. Are you incubating them upright or on their sides? I wouldn't leave them on one side for any length of time, but if you are hatching them standing upright, you could leave them for a bit if the air cells are saddled or giggly. Have you candled them to examine the air cell? I would first let them come to room temperature also before setting them in the pre-warmed incubator.
6. From Wikipedia: "Silkies are considered a bantam breed in some countries, but this varies according to region and many breed standards class them officially as large fowl; the bantam Silkie is actually a separate variety most of the time. Almost all North American strains of the breed are bantam-sized, but in Europe the standard-sized is the original version. However, even standard Silkies are relatively small chickens, with the males weighing only 1.8 kilograms (4 pounds), and females weighing 1.4 kg (3 lb).[3] The American Standard of Perfection calls for males that are 1 kg (36 oz), and females that are 900 g (32 oz).[1]"

A great place to ask questions as we go along as well as learn from others who are hatching at the same time is the hatch-a-longs here on BYC. This is the current HAL for November. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/november-2021-hatch-a-long.1498046/

Good luck with your hatch!

 

[FC16]

1. That should be long enough to rest, but... consider that they will likely start hatching at around the time that you set them... three weeks from now. If there are delays or any that you need to keep an eye on it may run into the night. That could work perfectly well for you, but I am past the age of enjoying a late-night hatch.
2. I have used a sharpie with no problems.
3. Turning three times daily is good. Whatever amount you choose, if they are laying on their sides, turn an odd number of times so they don't spend overnight on the same side as the night before.
4. Humidity of about 40-45% works for many people in many places, but maybe someone in your area will come along with better specifics on that.
5. Are you incubating them upright or on their sides? I wouldn't leave them on one side for any length of time, but if you are hatching them standing upright, you could leave them for a bit if the air cells are saddled or giggly. Have you candled them to examine the air cell? I would first let them come to room temperature also before setting them in the pre-warmed incubator.
6. From Wikipedia: "Silkies are considered a bantam breed in some countries, but this varies according to region and many breed standards class them officially as large fowl; the bantam Silkie is actually a separate variety most of the time. Almost all North American strains of the breed are bantam-sized, but in Europe the standard-sized is the original version. However, even standard Silkies are relatively small chickens, with the males weighing only 1.8 kilograms (4 pounds), and females weighing 1.4 kg (3 lb).[3] The American Standard of Perfection calls for males that are 1 kg (36 oz), and females that are 900 g (32 oz).[1]"

A great place to ask questions as we go along as well as learn from others who are hatching at the same time is the hatch-a-longs here on BYC. This is the current HAL for November. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/november-2021-hatch-a-long.1498046/

Good luck with your hatch!

Thank you so much for this it really helped. I’m hatching them on their sides so maybe best to start turning immediately. I haven’t candled yet but will do so tonight before I put them in, the incubator is running now. Thanks again

 

[MysteryChicken]

1. That should be long enough to rest, but... consider that they will likely start hatching at around the time that you set them... three weeks from now. If there are delays or any that you need to keep an eye on it may run into the night. That could work perfectly well for you, but I am past the age of enjoying a late-night hatch.
2. I have used a sharpie with no problems.
3. Turning three times daily is good. Whatever amount you choose, if they are laying on their sides, turn an odd number of times so they don't spend overnight on the same side as the night before.
4. Humidity of about 40-45% works for many people in many places, but maybe someone in your area will come along with better specifics on that.
5. Are you incubating them upright or on their sides? I wouldn't leave them on one side for any length of time, but if you are hatching them standing upright, you could leave them for a bit if the air cells are saddled or giggly. Have you candled them to examine the air cell? I would first let them come to room temperature also before setting them in the pre-warmed incubator.
6. From Wikipedia: "Silkies are considered a bantam breed in some countries, but this varies according to region and many breed standards class them officially as large fowl; the bantam Silkie is actually a separate variety most of the time. Almost all North American strains of the breed are bantam-sized, but in Europe the standard-sized is the original version. However, even standard Silkies are relatively small chickens, with the males weighing only 1.8 kilograms (4 pounds), and females weighing 1.4 kg (3 lb).[3] The American Standard of Perfection calls for males that are 1 kg (36 oz), and females that are 900 g (32 oz).[1]"

A great place to ask questions as we go along as well as learn from others who are hatching at the same time is the hatch-a-longs here on BYC. This is the current HAL for November. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/november-2021-hatch-a-long.1498046/

Good luck with your hatch!

I have some LF Silkies, my rooster weighs alittle over 4lbs, & the size of a Standard Sized rooster.

I also have a hen too, I'll add pictures of her if you want to see her.

 

[FC16]

I have some LF Silkies, my rooster weighs alittle over 4lbs, & the size of a Standard Sized rooster.
View attachment 2893006View attachment 2893007I also have a hen too, I'll add pictures of her if you want to see her.

Ah wow he’s cool. Yes would love to see a pic of her

 

[AgnesGray]

I have some LF Silkies, my rooster weighs alittle over 4lbs, & the size of a Standard Sized rooster.
View attachment 2893006View attachment 2893007I also have a hen too, I'll add pictures of her if you want to see her.

I have a LF silkie rooster as well. Looks like it's less common in north America than other places, but there are definitely many sizes of silkies. Mine is probably about 4 lbs as well, which is about half the size of most of my other LF roosters, but definitely much larger than my bantams.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I have a LF silkie rooster as well. Looks like it's less common in north America than other places, but there are definitely many sizes of silkies. Mine is probably about 4 lbs as well, which is about half the size of most of my other LF roosters, but definitely much larger than my bantams.

Yeah.
I'm taking advantage of the LF Silkies to create Giant Silkies.

 

[AgnesGray]

Yeah.
I'm taking advantage of the LF Silkies to create Giant Silkies.

I'd love to see those!

 

[MysteryChicken]

I'd love to see those!

I have a project thread you can check out if you want.

 

[AgnesGray]

I have a project thread you can check out if you want.

How do I find it?