What todo with my girl's eggs?

[keesmom]

I know this my seem like a crazy question but I can not find anything to help me. How many days afther my my hens lay there eggs should I leave them in the coop? I have silkies and we are vegan..... I really just want to raise a army of silkies and would like it to be done in the most "natural" way possible. I have two hens and one rooster. Help please

Personally I would not leave eggs in a nest box to encourage broodiness. I'd replace them with wooden eggs or golf balls. In general silkies are inclined to go broody easily and I've had many try to hatch pine shavings.

Now, as to raising a silkie army the natural way. Hatching eggs is the easy part. Do you have a plan for all the excess cockerels? It is unlikely you can keep a keep a happy flock that's 50%+/- male. The pullets and hens will be run ragged by amorous and competing males. You can keep a separate pen that's male only and for the most part they will get along fine. Just have a pen set up before problems arise.

 

[ChickenOwner2313]

If your chickens aren't sitting on the eggs almost every time you see them, then they probably aren't broody, which means they won't sit on their eggs, which means the eggs won't hatch. You could sell your eggs while you're waiting for your hens to go broody. When we are waiting for our hens to go broody we sell their eggs to friends and family for five dollars a dozen.

 

[1cock2hens]

I will make sure I never comment on any of your posts again.

you could just try playing nice thank you

 

[JesusCoffeeandmychick's]

Update..... So I am Central Missouri and our weather is all over the place so I had left eggs in nest and nothing happened I have today gathered 2 eggs layed this morning and placed them in a diy incubator. We do give our eggs away and keep some for coomico if need be because we are not strict vegan we just do not consum meat or animal milk. So I guess we will see what happens next.....

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Another thought, as you remove them is you can donate them to a local food pantry or a soup kitchen. They would love getting fresh eggs to give out.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

we are not strict vegan

I'm just glad to meet a vegan who isn't all holier than thou and preaching to me about all the ways I could "find other means than exploiting animals", despite not knowing my financial or health situation.

I actually WISH I could!

Alas... I like cheese too much... and some steaks.

But I do go out of my way to buy local pasture raised meat from my veterinarian's adult son. Not from feed lots where cows stand in poo up to their ankles. And since now processing our own poultry.. much more aware of the life that is given for us to live... so have drastically cut back our meat (and milk) consumption.

But again... I didn't get a sense of judgement or attack from you. Quite contrary to *most* vegans who make me NEVER want to become like them. Way to be a better example! You attract more bees with honey than vinegar.

Lot's of good advice here. Seriously decide how you feel about what you do with all the extra cockerels that will hatch. Hope you achieve your dreams and goals.

 

[1cock2hens]

I'm just glad to meet a vegan who isn't all holier than thou and preaching to me about all the ways I could "find other means than exploiting animals", despite not knowing my financial or health situation.

there actually used to be a vegan thread here on byc, well there still is but it's not active. A lot of nice vegans, veggans, and vegetarians on byc

 

[EggSighted4Life]

A lot of nice vegans, veggans, and vegetarians on byc