Using Silkies for Incubation

[Preservation Acres]

Hi folks,

If I were to use Silkies to incubate eggs laid by other breeds, how many medium to large eggs can an average Silkie hen incubate?

I've never had Silkies, but I know they're small birds.

Thanks!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Hey, Preservation! I'm in Rockvale too!!! Unbelieveable!!

I have a white silkie that just incubated 7 eggs. Four were standard and three were banties. She managed it just fine. I don't know how many more she can handle. I thought to try a half dozen standards under her next time she goes broody on me. Of the 7, four hatched (3 standards and a banty). Don't know if the problem was my silkie or not. My roosters are young and this was our first try at hatching. The three that didn't hatch had not developed at all so I'm guessing there was a fertilization problem.
The plus side of using a silkie is that they seem to be awesome mamas. Mine is doing a great job!

What kind of birds do you have?

 

[panner123]

I have had a dozen RIR or barred rock eggs under a silkie a number of times. And they all hatched. I have heard of one hatching 16 leghorn eggs, but I think that is pushing it.

 

[Preservation Acres]

Quote:
HEY!!!!! Awesome to get to meet a local. I'll send you a PM with more info.

 

[Preservation Acres]

Quote:
Wow! Go Silkie.

Thanks!

 

[silkieluver_07]

My silkie Diamond suddenly disappeared one day and we thought a hawk had killed her. We found her in a corner of our buff orpington coop (I have no clue how she got in there!)

She was sitting on 17 silkie eggs and 15 hatched! She is one of the smallest silkie hens I've had, but she is the greatest momma ever!!!

 

[Preservation Acres]

Quote:
That's fantastic! I was considering getting a few silkies rather than getting an incubator. Now I'm sure I'm going to do it.

What a great breed!

 

[silkieluver_07]

Quote:
That's fantastic! I was considering getting a few silkies rather than getting an incubator. Now I'm sure I'm going to do it.

What a great breed!

Where were you considering ordering from? I suggest JM Hatchery for their silkies. Every single one is a broody machine. My silkies from Ideal haven't gone broody on me yet.

 

[Preservation Acres]

I was thinking about putting an ad on craigslist and trying to find some from a local person. Thanks for the hatchery reference. I'll need to check them out and see what's their minimum order. I only want about 4 silkie hens.

 

[silkieluver_07]

Quote:
I think their minimum is 15 chicks, so that probably wouldn't work out. What's really nice is that I can drive to the hatchery and pick mine up directly.