ISO bearded silkie hatching eggs

[Adge1028]

Does anyone have any show quality bearded silkie hatching eggs? Would like only a couple if possible...
Anyone close to Alabama? I'm wanting to only hatch one chick so only need one or two eggs at most.

 

[AlleysChicks]

Please add location to your post. Also I would get at least a dozen as shipped eggs can sometimes be a gamble.

 

[Adge1028]

Please add location to your post. Also I would get at least a dozen as shipped eggs can sometimes be a gamble.

Thanks, I'm really only wanting to hatch one chick if possible, so only need a couple eggs. I have a broody hen sitting on unfertilized eggs right now, would like her to have one chick to raise.

 

[AlleysChicks]

When I mean a gamble I mean you may get 1 chick from a dozen eggs or you may get none. The more eggs the better your chances.
I had a ton of shipped eggs this year, about 60 and only had 1 chick hatch. It’s better to hatch as many as possible then select what you’re keeping after you know gender.

 

[Adge1028]

Wow, I didn't know the hatch rate was so low! Thank you for the info, I appreciate it.

 

[AlleysChicks]

Yes shipped eggs are risky. Sometimes they will start developing then stop. Or may be too scrambled to even start developing. Good luck and I hope you find your broody some eggs!

 

[Adge1028]

Yes shipped eggs are risky. Sometimes they will start developing then stop. Or may be too scrambled to even start developing. Good luck and I hope you find your broody some eggs!

Thank you

 

[chantels1]

Not to mention, there is no such thing as show quality eggs... Just because the parents win shows, does not mean they produce 100% show quality eggs. Silkies have so many hidden colors, it is difficult to predict what you will get. For instance: I purchased 12 eggs from 3000 miles away. Seller sent extra, so I ended up with 17 in the bator. Only 4 hatched due to the post office handling rough, and delivering late. All were supposed to be black chicks. 1 hatched out partridge. I have 3 blacks, but only 1 is possibly "show quality" The others have some pretty serious show defects. It is very common for silkies to hatch with random single combs, and you can get 4 toes, or 6 toes sometimes from show winning birds. Then there are other defects. One of my blacks has blue feathered feet... So if you want to hatch a winning bird, you are going to need to buy a lot of eggs. If you want to expand your breeding program, many of the eggs you will receive will hatch out great breeding stock with the potential of hatching a "show quality" chick. It just isn't as simple as buying a dozen eggs and getting a dozen show birds.

 

[SunsetEggs]

If you are looking for nice Silkie eggs, then check out ebay. There are a lot of good sellers on there who have eggs from quality birds. Just make sure to do your homework in terms of knowing the SOP for Silkies. Plenty of sellers claim their birds are "show quality" when they are certainly not, and it is definitely true that "show-winning" parents don't always hatch perfect chicks. Also, the other poster is right about the hatch rate being low for shipped eggs. Usually, the hatch rate is around 50% for shipped eggs. Of course experience is important and factors into your hatch rate, too. The first time I attempted to hatch shipped eggs none hatched, but I have gotten better over the years. It is always a gamble though. Good luck!

 

[BreanneRN]

Maybe you can find eggs from a local breeder or close by, so you won't have to use shipped eggs. I would still hatch at least 3, because a baby chick likes company, and they still might not all hatch.