Advice for a first time brooding?

[pineapple416]

I have decided to try to hatch some chicks in the spring/summer with a broody hen.
I have tried an incubator once before but had no success. I was thinking about breeding my silkie roo to a frizzled cochin hen to get some "sizzles". I also attempted to hatch Silkie chicks last spring but later discovered that the eggs were not fertilized. That probably would have helped. I am very sure that they will be fertilized next time because my roo is older now.
I wrote before but no one replied so I thought I would try a different approach to the post.

Does anyone have any general advice for the process and tips for getting the best hatch rate possible? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance everyone!

Here's a pic of my roo for cutenesses sake!

 

[SIMZ]

It's so fun to hatch with a broody! Search on here for some threads on hatching with a broody hen. Youtube and Google are also great resources. It's hard to cover it all in one post, but your first step is to make sure the hen is actually broody and that you're eggs are fertile.

Check your eggs for fertility before you put them under a broody hen. As long as they're fertile and she is ready to set, things should go well.

Best of luck and ask if you have any questions. BYC is such a great resource!

 

[pineapple416]

How exactly do you check for fertility? Do you crack the egg open or candle it?

 

[chickens really]

I have excellent success with my Broody Hens.
I collect eggs and then set her up in a Broody pen in my garage so she has privacy...Make her a nest with eggs, then food and water. Pop her in and walk away till she settles down onto nest..I do nothing but feed and water her and clean up her poop...My one is due again Tuesday.

 

[SIMZ]

How exactly do you check for fertility? Do you crack the egg open or candle it?

Crack the egg open and look for the little white spot on the yolk. If it is a tiny white speck the egg is not fertile, BUT if you see a white ring around the spot (looks like a bullseye) then the egg is fertile. Check a few eggs from that pen for fertility. If they're fertile you can go ahead and set them. (Picture in the link below)

https://www.mypetchicken.com/backya...-I-tell-if-my-hens-eggs-are-fertile-H274.aspx

 

[chickens really]

I never look for fertility..I pop them under my Hen and viola..Chicks hatch. Lol

 

[pineapple416]

Thanks for the advice everyone! We just purchased a frizzled Cochin hen and 2 pullets yesterday that we are planning to breed to my roo in the spring. So eggcited lol!

This is the hen named Anita

Lisa

Maria