Timing Is Everything ...

[SandyM]

Incubator free home - but I have silkies.

I'm wanting A few of my Silkie girls to hatch out Ameraucana eggs late Feb, March-ish. Just a few dozen

However, here's my dilemma. Timing. It was mentioned to me that if I wanted the ladies to go broody then I could put a bunch of eggs in their nesting box and watch the magic happen, then swap those bait eggs out for Ameraucana eggs. Will this work? I need to 'order' eggs for a date range, but don't want to waste eggs if they won't sit on them.

Another question: how many Ameraucana size eggs can one Silkie take on?

Thoughts, experience and suggestions always welcome

[Doug The Chickenman]

You can effectively hatch about 4 Ameraucana eggs under a silkie normally. You just have to make sure that they go broody and don't get off the eggs which some might do. one way I have heard of is take a milk crate and put a lid on it so they can't leave and there is no place for them to not sit on the eggs. Take them out once a day for the business and food and water about 10-15 mins under supervision then back in they go. I have enough silkies there are always broodies. some are sitting even now.

[SandyM]

Thanks Doug!! Excellent advice coming from the Silkie man himself :)

I have 8 pullets now of varying ages, youngest being yours ... The others only a month or two older. Lots of young ones.

Since this is my thread I can hijack

Hey Doug ..

You going to have any white silkies available?

And what about ducklings? Any of those in your plans?

[thegawd]

im sure somewhere it is scientifically known what causes them to go broody... hormones n all... now which ones and how do we trigger it?

[SandyM]

Where's Robbie?!?! Lol.

[Killerbunny]

My broodies aren't silkies and they just decide "it's now" with no though at all as to my convenience it is or the weather!

[WLLady]

estrogen, progesterone and prolactin.....LOL. just like women "nesting" when pregnant....same hormones. looks like broodies lack the inhibitors controlling the release of these, while breeds that do not go broody have more inhibitors.

[thegawd]

so how do you turn it on Kathy? soothing music and a candle light dinner? AHAHAHAHA

[ross]

"Tiny bubbles in the wine" :smilewithrooster:

[SandyM]

Omg Al! I seriously just snorted!!