jameslcfc Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Hello again, I have a hen who has been broody around 3 weeks. I am hoping to hatch my own eggs now the weather is going to be warming up shortly. My question is can I keep her sitting or should I wait until she comes out and goes broody again. She is a silkie aged nearly one. I am going to buy some eggs of the internet and hopefully she will sit the full term. How long will she sit? She is not sitting on eggs at the minute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I wouldn't chance it. They normally sit for 21 days ish to hatch. I would move her now, try to get her out of the habit we could still have some nasty weather to come. Silkies in my experience go broody about every 6 weeks anyway. Be good if you've got a back up. My Silkie who has always gone broody, refused to sit on eggs that I bought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslcfc Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 Well I went away on friday for 4 days and checked on them when I got back and all seemed ok. I have just gone down to see them again after work to find her sat on 5 eggs. The other hens were sat on her staying warm. I didnt see any eggs yesterday so think she was hiding some under her wings cus the others keep disturbing her. Hopefully she will start coming out soon. Im going to be setting up a coop this weekend ready for hatching. will the eggs she has been sat on be okay to eat? They are unfertilised eggs but obviously 5 days worth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 They're very sneaky at hiding the eggs aren't they . I think they should be ok to eat. You can do the test in water but I can't remember how that works. Is it if they're off they float? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 They're very sneaky at hiding the eggs aren't they . I think they should be ok to eat. You can do the test in water but I can't remember how that works. Is it if they're off they float? Egg shells are porous so that a developing chick doesn't suffocate. Therefore, the older the eggs are the more air has got in through the shell, so a fresh egg lays horizontal in water, an older egg starts to tip up at the blunt end, a stale egg floats vertically. (If you have a copy of Delia Smiths "How to cook" book 1 have a look in the egg section near the front!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslcfc Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 Well im not sure who is actually laying atm. Ive had around a dozen eggs from her so sure she will be about ready to go brrody if its my other silkie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
