Lost my rooster

[NNYchick]

I lost my Silkie rooster yesterday. I have a pullet that has been laying for 2 weeks that was breed by him. If she goes broody in the next week is it ok to let her hatch them or is she too new of a layer? I had been collecting the eggs because I wasn’t planning to hatch until spring but with this I really want chicks from him. Do I leave the eggs in the nest and date them or continue collecting and give back if she goes broody. She is a Silkie also so hopefully she’ll go broody.

 

[bantamluv]

Yes, they are probably fertile. How long have you kept them? Fertility goes down after 7 days, so it's best to go ahead and try to hatch them if you have a broody or an incubator. Really sorry about your roo. Good luck with them!

 

[NNYchick]

I only have 2 she layed on Thursday and today. Of course on Tuesday I scrambled the other 7 and we ate them. I have a picture of the eggs from before I think they were fertile.

 

[NNYchick]

I don’t have an incubator, so crossing fingers she will go broody. Do I need to bring them in till or leave them in the nest to encourage her to go broody? I is getting down to the 30’s at night here

 

[bantamluv]

Yes, you should bring them in at room temp with 55-66% humidity if you can. Try using other birds' eggs or buy fake eggs to encourage her to go broody. I doubt she will, but there's always a chance. You might go ahead and purchase an incubator. Good luck

 

[NNYchick]

Ok thank you. I brought it in and I have plastic Easter eggs in there. I’ve had them in there as she is a new layer. No money in the budget right now for an incubator with a birthday on the 6th and 8th then holidays coming. I would really like chicks from him but the way I look at it is if she goes broody it’s ment to be. I’m on the fence with it anyways as I really didn’t plan to deal with chicks in the middle of winter.

 

[Abriana]

You can make an incubator-there are easy instructions online just in case your silkie doesn’t go broody. You could also borrow a broody hen from someone else or a neighbor if they have one.