Hatching Silkie Eggs w/Easter Eggers? Hatch time under broody hens?

[PortlandHen]

Hello,

My two bantam Cochin frizzle serama sisters are broody (again/as usual) and we are popping fertile eggs under them. My friend gave me a few of her fertile Easter egger eggs and I had some silkie eggs sent to me.

I’ve just read there may be a difference in hatch time for the silkies. 21 typical and maybe 18 for silkies? I want to time this right so my... not super smart little chicken ladies... don’t give up on the Easter eggs if the silkies hatch early.

Anyone hatched silkies with other eggs under a hen? I’d love advice... and yes these ladies are tiny and always broody together (always in the same box) and will probably hatch and mother together. Ha!

Background: we’ve hatched eggs under a broody hen in the past. She gave up on them and we raised those in a brooder. I don’t think these ladies will give up on these chicks.

Photo: one of the frizzles sitting on the easter egger eggs and the sister stealing them behind her. I held off on the silkies... just in case.

- Chelsey

 

[redranger209]

I thought silkies were the normal 21, but just to be safe set the ees a day or two quicker.

 

[Kessel23]

I thought all chicken eggs would go for 21 days, I have hatched a silkie hen's eggs before and it took 21 day, the dad was a EE though.

 

[redranger209]

Some bantams hatch a few days early.

 

[PortlandHen]

I thought silkies were the normal 21, but just to be safe set the ees a day or two quicker.

I’ve read conflicting information and now I have no idea. I put the EEs under last night, so maybe I’ll pop the silkies under tomorrow?

Thanks!