Silkie Hen and Me Hatch-off-- advice please

[Silkie Sue]

Good Morning,
Here is the thing....
Last month i put 20 of my Silkies eggs in the bator and nothing hatched. i candled and i guess i made up stuff to see in there. I don't have to say i was more than a little disappointed.

My first theory was that the eggs got frozen in the time it took them to be laid and me getting them out of the barn. My next and i think more weirder and true is that my roo still thinks of my hen as his daughter, as he raised her and her brothers after the mother and another chick were killed by a coon. Do you think he would still think like that??
Anywho, that is not the real question...
I wanted to try again so I gathered more eggs including some from my Standard WCB Polish and i was going to put them in the bator..... when i got home form work my little hen who had laid over 30 eggs decided she was finally gonna sit.... so i took 8 Silkie eggs (leaving her with 4) and i took 5 polish eggs ( leaving her with 1)
all of the silkie eggs i believe are duds ( i've learned a thing or two about candeling) both in the bator and under the hen
today is day 12. the polish egg under her is viable and 4 out of the 5 i have in the bator are also growing.
HERE'S THE QUESTION......
Should I
a- let the incubator do its job and fully hatch these chicks and put them in the brooder i have set up in the spare bedroom so i can google at the new chicks for hours and see how cute they are

or

b- put the eggs under the hen at some point that you will tell is the best time to do that.

or
c- wait til they hatch and when they are dry put them under the hen for her to raise with the other one.

i can hardly wait to hear what you think
thanks for listening and your opinions

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

Personally, once I put them in the incubator, that is where they stay until they hatch. Then when dry, into a brooder.

If the hen hatches them, then she keeps them.


Also, if I have some that have not developed on day 18, I crack them open and see how far along they were or if they were infertile.

 

[Silkie Sue]

anyone else....
that wasn't what i wanted to hear...

 

[RhodeRunner]

It is very possible the eggs couldn't handle the cold. If you don't snag them up fast enough, a dead embroyo happens. I would have a hard time believing that your rooster wouldn't mate with her, but I suppose it is a possibility.

I don't see a problem with any of your options. I have had hens hatch them, and I have had hens adopt them. (Some hens don't like to adopt, but I never had a Silkie that wouldn't). Though I have never started eggs in a bator, and then put them under a hen, I also don't see anything wrong with that.

Silkie eggs are pretty easy to candle. If they are clear, or have just a ring around them then they are bad. If they are good you will see veining, a dot, and then eventually a little squid (the chick LOL). Sometimes you can see them kicking in there.

Happy hatching,
Jamie

 

[Silkie Sue]

Thanx Jamie
this is my second try at incubating and hopefully getting something to come out of a shell this time..

all my Silkie eggs are duds cuz i can see right thru them.. i haven't tossed them yet... friday is lockdown and i figured i'd give them the last chance candle.
i would have let my hen hatch all the Polish eggs if i had faith that she was gonna stick with it ( it is her first time) and she has done great so far... the 1 polish egg she is sitting on is the only one i've actually seen move around in there

 

[RhodeRunner]

Quote:
Sorry to hear the Silkie eggs are most likely duds. But, on the bright side it is nice to see that the hard working Polish may get a baby! The Spring has just started, so don't get too discouraged.

 

[Silkie Sue]

Well, this incubator is actually my sister in laws and she is wanting it back.
i also acquired 4 more beautiful silkie hens and a rooster, so i probably will not have a shortage of

i'll just let them do all the work and worrying (ya rite)