Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[slordaz]

Only thing we can do at this point and they are gonna have to stay in a brooder inside the house for a while anyways due to a magpie problem. Will post as we are on 4 days to go and all eggs are looking good . Bit more nervous about the egg shells themselves as they are really thick and strong compared to the store bought eggs, we caught a magpie trying to run off with a leghorn egg cause was to big for them and they'd dropped it and it didn't break.

 

[Bernadine503]

I have two broody Silkie hens. When is the best time to put some fertilized eggs under them......after dark? Does it matter?

 

[PD-Riverman]

I have two broody Silkie hens. When is the best time to put some fertilized eggs under them......after dark? Does it matter?

It does not matter, if these are in with other hens----mark the eggs and remove any fresh layed eggs Daily and also don't add eggs to her nest after the first day----doing it that way all the eggs should hatch around the same time. Good Luck

 

[Bernadine503]

Okay, I'll try that. I'm letting the Silkie eggs I bought from a local lady rest for about 12 hours. I think she'll take to them just fine because I tested her by putting an unfertilized egg in front of her and she quickly tucked the egg under her

Another question: Does marking with a regular black sharpie work? I would think pencil would rub off. I wouldn't want to and any toxins to the eggs though.

 

[kilby]

Okay, I'll try that. I'm letting the Silkie eggs I bought from a local lady rest for about 12 hours. I think she'll take to them just fine because I tested her by putting an unfertilized egg in front of her and she quickly tucked the egg under her

Another question: Does marking with a regular black sharpie work? I would think pencil would rub off. I wouldn't want to and any toxins to the eggs though.

I did not trust any pen so I marked with pencil on the ends where they wont get much friction since they lay length wise. A simple X or O would do then mark on your calendar what day that means.

 

[Bernadine503]

I did not trust any pen so I marked with pencil on the ends where they wont get much friction since they lay length wise. A simple X or O would do then mark on your calendar what day that means.

Using a pencil makes better sense to me too, and marking the ends. I have 8 fertilized eggs. I actually have two broody Silkie hens, a black and white one. I'll mark "B" on 4 egg ends and give it to my black Silkie, and I'll mark "W" on the other 4 egg ends and give them to my white silkie. This is their first time hatching and I'm afraid to give each of them more eggs than they can handle. They both decided to go broody side by side. I plan on giving them the eggs at the same time so they will both be in sync on the calendar that I am also marking. Does this sound okay? I guess I can also mark them with the letter of their first name

I only have three Silkie hens so I'm not worried about much confusion.

 

[kilby]

Using a pencil makes better sense to me too, and marking the ends. I have 8 fertilized eggs. I actually have two broody Silkie hens, a black and white one. I'll mark "B" on 4 egg ends and give it to my black Silkie, and I'll mark "W" on the other 4 egg ends and give them to my white silkie. This is their first time hatching and I'm afraid to give each of them more eggs than they can handle. They both decided to go broody side by side. I plan on giving them the eggs at the same time so they will both be in sync on the calendar that I am also marking. Does this sound okay? I guess I can also mark them with the letter of their first name

I only have three Silkie hens so I'm not worried about much confusion.

Sure, I don't think they mind what you mark on them. Just make sure of the dates. You may have bought them eggs so I guess that day plus 3 weeks later and your done for now. You could listen for peeps before the 21st day. Tell us how you are doing. I am not sure of silkie gestation periods. Is it 21 days too?

 

[fisherlady]

Okay, I'll try that. I'm letting the Silkie eggs I bought from a local lady rest for about 12 hours. I think she'll take to them just fine because I tested her by putting an unfertilized egg in front of her and she quickly tucked the egg under her

Another question: Does marking with a regular black sharpie work? I would think pencil would rub off. I wouldn't want to and any toxins to the eggs though.

Sharpie vs pencil has been debated before... you can use the search block above for 'pencil or sharpie to mark eggs' and then read through some of the threads for yourself to view the arguments for/against each option.
In our coop we just use a sharpie and draw a line around the center of the egg so the mark is visible no matter how the egg is positioned in the nest, we sometimes have additional marks for date laid, hen or breed but always the line.
We have not had any problem with the sharpie and I have often joked ...'we have yet to have a chick hatch with a tattoo'

 

[Bernadine503]

Sure, I don't think they mind what you mark on them. Just make sure of the dates. You may have bought them eggs so I guess that day plus 3 weeks later and your done for now. You could listen for peeps before the 21st day. Tell us how you are doing. I am not sure of silkie gestation periods. Is it 21 days too?

Yes, it should be 21 days for Silkies too. It seems I read that day 1 starts counting the day AFTER you place them under the hen, or start incubating them. Either way, I'll make sure to watch the dates

 

[Bernadine503]

Sharpie vs pencil has been debated before... you can use the search block above for 'pencil or sharpie to mark eggs' and then read through some of the threads for yourself to view the arguments for/against each option.
In our coop we just use a sharpie and draw a line around the center of the egg so the mark is visible no matter how the egg is positioned in the nest, we sometimes have additional marks for date laid, hen or breed but always the line.
We have not had any problem with the sharpie and I have often joked ...'we have yet to have a chick hatch with a tattoo'

Sure, I can see why people would prefer either option. "We have yet to have a chick hatch with a tattoo"......that's cute!