Silkie setting for 1st time Australia

[Veb]

I have a silkie hen setting for the first time. Will she know what to do. Do I have to make sure she is drinking and eating, and how, seems to be in a daze or la la land. She only has one egg. Do I wait 21 days to see if it’s in fact fertile and she hatches a chick or break her set. As I recently lost one of my pet hens I’m hoping to have a new little chick.

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

She will know what to do. She will leave her nest for short periods of time to get food and water, so just make sure it's close. Try to put some more eggs under her so the chick won't be lonely, and try not to disturb her. Good luck!

 

[Veb]

She will know what to do. She will leave her nest for short periods of time to get food and water, so just make sure it's close. Try to put some more eggs under her so the chick won't be lonely, and try not to disturb her. Good luck!

Thankyou, because it’s pouring rain here in nsw, the three of them are in the hen house. With food and water. Wish I had more fertile silkie eggs. Hard to find this time of year, maybe it’s not a fertile egg. As my avatar shows only have these 3 pets. Would be great to know of someone in nsw Australia who has more fertile eggs. Thankyou for good advice, much appreciated

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you're going to add more eggs, do it very soon, or you may end up with eggs gestating at different rates and the hen abandoning the nest before the eggs all hatch.

Conversely you could take away the egg she's sitting on, wait until you have a few eggs to work with, then put those new eggs under her so they all start gestating at the same time.

Or if just 1 chick is fine with you, just let her hatch the one egg.

 

[Veb]

If you're going to add more eggs, do it very soon, or you may end up with eggs gestating at different rates and the hen abandoning the nest before the eggs all hatch.

Conversely you could take away the egg she's sitting on, wait until you have a few eggs to work with, then put those new eggs under her so they all start gestating at the same time.

Or if just 1 chick is fine with you, just let her hatch the one egg.

Thankyou so much for your kind reply. Have decided to let her set on one egg. I’m making sure she gets a little extra protein.

 

[aart]

As my avatar shows only have these 3 pets.

Is one of them a male?

 

[Veb]

Is one of them a male?

Yes, one is a very kind gentle rooster.