I thought I lost a silkie hen. I hadn't seen her in almost a week. Well, I went searching and found her in the woods sitting on a clutch of 15 eggs. She is a tiny banty and had built this deep nest so they all fit under her. I moved her into my brooding pen in the barn and put the eggs in a nest I made of hay. She settled down on them, but 15 eggs was too many for her tiny self. She tried and tried to move them all under her but inevitably 6 or 7 would pop out from under her. I decided to take 7 eggs and leave her with 8. I candled the 7 and they appear to be growing but maybe 5 or so days younger than what I currently have in the bator. I will try for a staggered hatch figuring at least they have a chance. I couldn't leave her outside with the eggs in the woods. It has been below freezing at night and we even got snow the other day. I am in W. Tennessee by the way. Besides the predators that could have eaten her at night. This is also her first time going broody.She is about 9 months old.
So, would you have done the same thing? If not, what would you have done?
So, would you have done the same thing? If not, what would you have done?
