Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Leahs Mom]

Lost two from 3 chicks today...wondering if I will even try again.

What happened...how did you lose them?

 

[Meredith MMH]

I've ordered 6 eggs for my bantam silkie. I wanted to also hatch a few Cayuga duck eggs for my next door neighbour who already has some but would like to replace their old ones. a so I have a few questions::/

1) can a silkie hatch duck eggs?
2) how long before I put the chicken eggs in should I put the ducks in, they are Cayuga ducks so how much longer will they take to hatch? I want them all to hatch on the same date.
3) Will the ducklings and the chicks get on with each other?
4) When I introduce chicken raised ducks to their biological duck parents will they think they're chickens?
5) How many eggs can I put under my silkie hen?

Thanks for the help, Meredith

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I've ordered 6 eggs for my bantam silkie. I wanted to also hatch a few Cayuga duck eggs for my next door neighbour who already has some but would like to replace their old ones. a so I have a few questions::/
1) can a silkie hatch duck eggs?
2) how long before I put the chicken eggs in should I put the ducks in, they are Cayuga ducks so how much longer will they take to hatch? I want them all to hatch on the same date.
3) Will the ducklings and the chicks get on with each other?
4) When I introduce chicken raised ducks to their biological duck parents will they think they're chickens?
5) How many eggs can I put under my silkie hen?
Thanks for the help, Meredith

1) I have heard of silkies hatching turkey eggs, so duck eggs should be no problem.
2) I'm not sure but I think it was around 4 more days I think.
3) They should. They may just think the other is strange for trying to play in the water/not wanting to be in the water.
4) I don't know, but I doubt it.
5) I would go with six max.

 

[stonykill]

1) I have heard of silkies hatching turkey eggs, so duck eggs should be no problem.
2) I'm not sure but I think it was around 4 more days I think.
3) They should. They may just think the other is strange for trying to play in the water/not wanting to be in the water.
4) I don't know, but I doubt it.
5) I would go with six max.

I've ordered 6 eggs for my bantam silkie. I wanted to also hatch a few Cayuga duck eggs for my next door neighbour who already has some but would like to replace their old ones. a so I have a few questions:

1) can a silkie hatch duck eggs?
2) how long before I put the chicken eggs in should I put the ducks in, they are Cayuga ducks so how much longer will they take to hatch? I want them all to hatch on the same date.
3) Will the ducklings and the chicks get on with each other?
4) When I introduce chicken raised ducks to their biological duck parents will they think they're chickens?
5) How many eggs can I put under my silkie hen?
Thanks for the help, Meredith

1) I have heard of silkies hatching turkey eggs, so duck eggs should be no problem.
2) I'm not sure but I think it was around 4 more days I think.
3) They should. They may just think the other is strange for trying to play in the water/not wanting to be in the water.
4) I don't know, but I doubt it.
5) I would go with six max.

1) sure
2)7 days ahead of the chicken eggs
3) yup
4) no
5) duck eggs? 3 to 4 MAX under a silkie

 

[Meredith MMH]

Thanks Chick_In_The_Burbs and stonykill, heres a pic of my broody hen with one of her fake eggs on her for scale, I put these under her to keep her broody but not start incubating any eggs.

And one from a while ago, before she went broody, looking very grumpy about being brought inside for a photo, Don't know how many she can sit on but she's hatch ed 6 normal chicken eggs before

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

  1) sure
   2)7 days ahead of the chicken eggs
   3) yup
   4) no
   5) duck eggs? 3 to 4 MAX under a silkie

#5, you're right. *facepalm* I was thinking chicken eggs for some reason.

 

[farmer boy]

In that case just make sure she doesn't have more than 8 eggs and put up something to stop the others from laying in her nest. Six eggs would probably be optimal but most hens can cover up to 8 comfortably. Your worst potential problem is her getting too many eggs to cover. Fewer eggs will improve your odds.

Good luck!

well i just hope there is no standard eggs the chicks will get to big for her

 

[stonykill]

well i just hope there is no standard eggs the chicks will get to big for her

this time of year....yes. The fewer eggs the better.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

What happened...how did you lose them?

I lost one to a terrible broody mum who just left the chick out of the nest to die and I lost the other to a goanna

, which now means I have a goanna problem now.

 

[farmer boy]

this time of year....yes. The fewer eggs the better.

ya i just checked shes really mean when shes on eggs biting but we got a good look 3 eggs two bantam eggs and one standard so thats good