Silkie is laying but not setting?!

[acarter26]

One of our silkies has laid 6 eggs and I have yet to see her set on them. How many eggs will they lay before staying put?

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Apparently quite a few. I have a silkie that is 14 months old and hasn't gone broody once. Her "sister" stays broody. They're individuals.

 

[DTRM30]

Some chickens will lay eggs their whole life and never go broody. Some will lay 3 eggs and try to set on everyone elses every few months.

Laying in and of itself does not mean the hen will want to set on them. It's a biological thing - some do some don't.

Silkies tend to go broody more than other breeds - but like gritsar said - they are individuals.

I have a brown leghorn who has been laying for three years and went broody for the first time this past summer. I have a barred rock and a few others the same age that have never been broody. I had a silkie (until the oppossum got her) that was always broody - I had another silkie that never went broody. Just for some examples for ya ...

If she's only just started laying eggs, she's still young as well. There is no way to force it to happen - and there is no way of telling if or when it will happen.

 

[TammyP]

Might I ask you silkie owners....approx. what age should I be expecting her first egg to appear?

Thanks!

~Tammy

Hope I didn't hijack this thread..just thought with silkie owners all in one group, you could enlighten me??

 

[DTRM30]

never really noticed - but I know it's been later than the LF I've had. I'm thinking around 28-30 weeks ? I'm sure someone on the silkie thread under breeds can probably tell you though.

 

[TammyP]

Quote:
Ok, thank you very much. I will check over there.

~Tammy

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I can't remember precisely when, but I know it was later than most of the other breeds - listed in my signature except for the brahmas. I believe it was around 26 to 28 weeks.

 

[BooBear]

My Silkies were pretty close to their 7 month mark before their first egg.