Use the broody hen or the incubator?

[Lesalynn]

Ok. I have a dozen shipped Silkie eggs to pick up at the PO today. I have a broody EE hen right now who has never hatched a clutch, but she is very sweet and manageable. I have wonderful success hatching my own eggs, but not so great with the Silkie eggs. Should I set these eggs with the broody hen hopefully making for a better hatch? Or should I try the incubator again?

 

[sumi]

From my experience broodies are the way to go. No worries about temperatures, humidity and power failures

And I've had much better hatch rates under broodies. I'd say give the broody the eggs and leave the incubator on stand-by.

 

[tatiana916]

I'm thinking about doing the same under my broody hen. I've always wanted silkies and shame to waste the broody hen ( I also cant stand the look she gives me when I take the eggs from under her!!)
I've never hatched eggs before though, neither has she so I'm hoping we'll be able to teach each other a few things!
I've heard you need to set the eggs upside down for 24hours once they arrive in the post -is this true?
Also how do you know that she's turning them properly or do I not need to worry about this?

 

[sumi]

I don't know about storing eggs upside down, I've been told to store them on their sides and turn them.

Hens will turn the eggs, don't worry. I had a broody in a big plastic bucket once. We used to listen to her turning the eggs. She did it quite frequently.