My silkie is sitting on eggs.. Need advice!

[scsc2323]

I'm new to chickens. I have 2 silkie hens, a RI red hen, and 2 silkie roosters in a very large run with 2 coops. They all get along well and are very sweet. One of my silkie hens has been sitting on her eggs. My fiancé said she had 2.. I found SIX! She has had them under her for at least 2 weeks. He didn't want to move her.. I candled the eggs and saw veins in most, some had dark spots, and all had just a see through section on the broad side of the egg about 1/3 of an inch down. There's a solid straight ring around the broad side of the egg where it's see-through. They are very warm in my hand and stay warm. My "mama" hen comes down to eat just once a day in the morning. How do I tell if these eggs will hatch, and when?

 

[Tabasco Jack]

Read this thread about broody hens. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/496101/broody-hen-thread

Read this one on candling and compare your eggs to the photos to determine how old the eggs are. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-candling-pics-progression-though-incubation

Silkies are great for hatching eggs. If it's her first time you'll need to watch carefully for when they hatch to make sure she will be a good mother. If not, then you'll need to take the chicks from her and put them in a brooder.

Consider an outside heating pad brooder like this https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update if you can swing it.

Good luck.

 

[scsc2323]

Came home today to all eggs destroyed by the RI Red hen. Why??? Why does this happen? I'm ready to give up! The eggs had veins. Dark spots. I could cry! I know nothing about this and need help

 

[FridayYet]

I'm really sorry to hear that.

Many people advise to isolate a broody hen and her nest where she can be protected from others and also keep the eggs from being added to or stolen away. A quiet area with her own food and water and a small run where she can stretch will help things go better next time.

Good luck.

 

[scsc2323]

Like I said, I'm new to this. I don't know what broody means. How do I keep the Red from eating or pecking the silkie eggs? She didn't do it until the eggs were almost going to hatch. I came home to destroyed eggs and, what seemed to be, almost developed chicks. The silkie is still in the coop nesting.. My other silkie joined her. They won't come down. It's so sad

 

[scsc2323]

I was told that broody meant stubborn and won't lay eggs. Hence, my questions for help here.

 

[FridayYet]

A hen that is broody has the hormonal urge to sit on a clutch of eggs until they hatch. The do not lay eggs during this time. They only leave the nest once a day to eat and poop.

If you want this to work, you need to separate your broody silkie, or both of them, in an area where the bigger chickens cannot get to them.

Once you make a safe place, you can put her/them in there and slip a new set of eggs under them.

 

[TimCline]

If it were me I would have sold or culled the RIR. (Probably just culled on the spot) I wouldn't want it passing on terrible traits in my flock. Or just pen the silkie separately.