Infertile hen lays an egg; what do I do with it?

catwalk

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Last week I was given a beautiful bearded buff barred Silkie hen. Her owner said that she had her for a year and a half, and she's never laid an egg. Imagine my surprise when I found an egg in her pen today! Supposing she was bred seven days ago, the last day she was with her "boyfriend", what are the chances it is fertile? Should I set it, dip it in bronze, or make a sandwich?
 
I'd say it's experiment time!!!! INCUBATE!!!
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(P.S. in all seriousness, if she was mated, they are usually fertile up to three weeks after a mating.)
 
I don't know if I'd incubate it until you know what's going on with her...if she truly has laying issues, then she could pass this on to her hatchlings. If she lays a few more, perhaps the previous owner just did not relalize she lays (maybe he confused her egg with another bird's), or she's just way happier with you! In that case, I'd go ahead & incubate a few! JMO
 
I bet that other guy didn't know she has been laying..... was the egg you got REALLY tiny, or regular? New layers usually lay teeny eggs.

Maybe you should wait for more.... if that's the only one, maybe you should save it forever!
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Set it! My understanding is that a chicken can be fertile up to 2 weeks after the deed? It could be you are feeding it better- it is happier at your place than at the other. Lots of reasons why there was no egg till now.. Maybe just as simple as no egg found. Susan
 
The woman I got her from says she tried keeping it in a separate pen from the other hens, separating it from the roo for a couple of days, etc. I'm feeding her chick starter, just because that's what I have on hand. She gets to run around the yard for a couple of hours every day, so she's getting a lot more exersize than she used too. Her favorite spot is under the neighbor's bird feeder, so I know she's getting a more varied diet. I don't know what a bantam egg should look like, but it's about the size of the smallest egg you would ever find in the grocery store, if they even sell extra small eggs anymore. A little long, lightly tinted, with an air sack and a yolk. Pretty good looking first egg. I have two theories: some kids are playing a prank and planted it, or she has a secret trap door under her pen at the old place. I'm gonna wait to see if she pumps out any more, and I think I'll set it.
 
shes probably just happier. I moved my EE hen out of the standard coop and she started laying almost everyday.

the small coop wasnt as crowded and a little cleaner too. the old coop is OLD and the boxes are hammered & need replacing.
 

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