Silkie Can't See Around the Feathers

[Obsessed With Silkies]

I'm wondering if maybe this is one of the reasons all my silkies are laying unfertilized eggs. I have hens from all different places( eggs were incubated by me though)and a roo and I keep incubating them and nothing.

I don't think having excess hair would prevent a chicken from laying unfertilized eggs. I have Silkies too. One of mine actually learned to wet her hair so she could see. Do you only have one rooster? If you have another rooster I would try putting him with your silkies and just checking when you crack your eggs to see if they're fertile. Your hatch method also may be a factor. What incubator did you use and what hatching method?

 

[Lilchiknmama87]

I don't think having excess hair would prevent a chicken from laying unfertilized eggs. I have Silkies too. One of mine actually learned to wet her hair so she could see. Do you only have one rooster? If you have another rooster I would try putting him with your silkies and just checking when you crack your eggs to see if they're fertile. Your hatch method also may be a factor. What incubator did you use and what hatching method?

Yes I only have the one Roo. He is a lot larger than my silkie hens and the more I have been observing them I have noticed that he seems to prefer the larger ladies of the coop ( brahmas, cochins, svarthona, Americaunas ) lol. The incubator I am using is a Hovabator.

 

[Chicken poppy]

Yes I only have the one Roo. He is a lot larger than my silkie hens and the more I have been observing them I have noticed that he seems to prefer the larger ladies of the coop ( brahmas, cochins, svarthona, Americaunas ) lol. The incubator I am using is a Hovabator.

Heres advice and a trick to test it.

First, to much butt fluff can interfere, it has with me, so do try trimming.

Next, if your ok with it, crack open an egg, if you see a large bullseye, it is fertile. You will see a small “bullseye” (more like a dot) either way, but it should be noticeable. This narrows it down to being a problem like from incubation.

Also, please turn your eggs if you let them sit so it doesn’t cause deformities or hatching problems. Average sitting time for counter/fridge is 2 wks but can go passed that. The more days go by and it slowly lessens the chance of the eggs hatching.

You could make a breeding pen with him and the other silkies to insure he mates them temporarily or permanently.

https://www.amazon.com/Harris-Farms...pY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1 here is a great, simple to use incubator. However, not everyone wants to put in the money for a incubator so expensive, and there are other good working incubators too.
Do keep in mind this thread is about 12 years old and you probably won’t get many responses, if you want more responses and people to see it, it may be worth making a new thread.