Hi all. I LOVE this forum. Everyone is a wealth of information...so thanks in advance. I have already learned so much. But, I do need to ask what to many are probably some very beginner questions...so forgive me...
I thought that in the Spring I'd like to have some of my young silkie hens (just started laying about a month ago) hatch out some of my Delaware's eggs. I know that the Silkies must be broody first...and then I guess I must have collected and marked my Delaware's eggs....HOW do I collect and store eggs for this? Are they to be kept at a certain temperature until I place them under the Silkies?
My plan is to let them hatch and then put them right into a brooder. Does this upset the hen and interfere with her hatching the rest of the eggs?
Also, how warm should it be here in the Northeast before I let them hatch out chicks?
Any/all advice welcome.....
I thought that in the Spring I'd like to have some of my young silkie hens (just started laying about a month ago) hatch out some of my Delaware's eggs. I know that the Silkies must be broody first...and then I guess I must have collected and marked my Delaware's eggs....HOW do I collect and store eggs for this? Are they to be kept at a certain temperature until I place them under the Silkies?
My plan is to let them hatch and then put them right into a brooder. Does this upset the hen and interfere with her hatching the rest of the eggs?
Also, how warm should it be here in the Northeast before I let them hatch out chicks?
Any/all advice welcome.....