Any Tips for a First-Timer?

[jordy7786]

Hi,

So I bought my first lot of hatching eggs at the mart almost three weeks ago. 10 Blue laced Wyandottes and 12 Appenzellers.

They've been in an incubator since and we're hoping they hatch in the next few days. I did candle them about a week ago and got rid of about 10 eggs in total which weren't fertilised.
Just wondering if anyone had any tips / pointers they wouldn't mind sharing as this is all new to me! Really excited

Thanks

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The best advice for a first time chicken owner is: Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

 

[jordy7786]

haha, thanks. Not really sure how to take that.

I had one egg pip last night so I'm excited to find out if there's any progress when I get home from work today!

 

[Hholly]

Congrats! Do you have a coop and run already built? If so you can post photos of your setup and folks can give input about what works and what doesn't.
Good luck!

 

[jordy7786]

Hi,

Yeah - we currently have a few smaller coops, one with two bantams in it and the other with two brown hens (one of which we had to PTS last night as I think she had had a prolapse)

. I have a large coop on order just now which should arrive any day and I plan on putting the hens in together as they'll have lots of space. We did try putting them in together previously but the brown hens were pecking at the bantams and I separated them again. I've heard this is normal until they establish who's boss but I hated seeing it (I think i'm maybe just too soft!?) and took them out again! I'm hoping that with much more space in the bigger coop they'll get along better.

When I move them, I'll use the smaller coop for the chicks I have hatching at the moment. One pipped last night but no movement since....

 

[jordy7786]

This is the bigger one that I have arriving any day... it's bigger than the model shown here but a similar layout.


And this is one of the smaller coops we currently have the brown hen in... I'll use if for the chicks. What sort of age should they be when they're ready to go outside into a coop?

 

[Hholly]

Here's a great article that may help you out.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101