swapping out eggs for chicks

[meresa1991]

hey all,

I have two black silkies that have been sitting on eggs for too long now. I was thinking of going to the feed store to get some chicks. Will my chickens accept me swapping out their eggs for chicks? And if so, how may chicks can they handle?

Thanks!
meresa1991

mom to 2 kids, 2 chickens, 1 dog, & 1 cat

 

[tiffanyh]

If you let them sit on the eggs for a while, pretty close to 3 weeks then switch them out at night. Worked a few times for me. My buffs where sitting on 6 eggs I think----I stuck 10 babies under her. Guess she cant count! But she was a great mom.

 

[Davaroo]

There is a great bit about this in the Luttmans book, "Chickens In Your Backyard" - but if pretty much mimics what tiffany says.

I'd only add that you be ready with a brooder just in case your hen is one of the dumb ones and rejects them