Feeding silkie hatchlings??

[Psychobunny]

I just ordered 2000 silkie eggs from Mulberry farms.
I have some large petri dishes.

They say the eggs will hatch in a few days and I have read all the blogs here about how to raise them.

But one question I cant find the answer to.

If I put some eggs in the center of the dish, and place thin strips of prepared chow in a circle all around them, when they hatch, will they be able to find the food?

In nature, the moth lays the eggs directly on the mulberry leaf, the newly hatched silkie doesnt need to crawl to find food.

Of course, I dont want to place the food strips in the petri dish the same day I get the eggs, or the food will be dried up by the time they hatch.

Will they be able to find the chow, or is it best to place the eggs directly on actual mulberry leaves, which I can get pretty easy?!

 

[pigglett79]

I wait until they have hatched then put tiny shreds of food around the edge of them and they usually go over to it. If I see some not migrating to the good I will put a tiny bit over them. But you want to wait several hours after they start hatching to feed them so that most of the eggs are hatched before possibly coming in to contact w food.

However if you are using leaves then you have less to worry about. Once they start hatching I would put the leave right in. Although it's hard to transition them to chow after they have been eating leaves.

 

[Psychobunny]

Okay, this answers my questions, I can wait until they hatch, then stick the food in there. I was afraid they wouldnt be able to crawl to it.
Thanks much

 

[reptoman]

FYI - my eggs hatch out at 7 days every time. I keep them on a shelf higher up in the chameleon room which probably stays around 78-79F most of the day.

 

[Psychobunny]

I was going to put mine in the incubator at about 80F.