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BlueBaby said:
I have a 3rd chick now trying to bust out of it's jailshell!
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bunsnpupsnchick said:
Thanks. When I start collecting I'll have to adjust my house temp or figure out something. I keep it about 83 during the day then lower at night. Sounds like it'd be too warm. I'm learning all the time....yay!!
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83* will probably still be okay as long as you don't keep them anywhere sunny and you set the eggs to incubate sooner rather than later. Ten days is usually considered the max you want to wait before beginning incubation, but when the ambient temperature is higher you don't want to wait that long. The eggs won't start developing until they've been at 99* for 24 hours.
 
DesertChic said:
83* will probably still be okay as long as you don't keep them anywhere sunny and you set the eggs to incubate sooner rather than later. Ten days is usually considered the max you want to wait before beginning incubation, but when the ambient temperature is higher you don't want to wait that long. The eggs won't start developing until they've been at 99* for 24 hours.
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Good to know. I'll definitely locate the coolest, darkest spot in the house when I start collecting. For now, I might let a hen hatch out when/if one goes broody. My older ones that are a bit over a year old, I'm sure they're not 2 yet, have just started their first molt. My older sexlink is coming out of her molt. The hens, my roo doesn't look to be starting or at least not loosing as many feathers yet.

Is it best to use eggs from the hens that are past their first molt or is it ok to use younger? Is the bullseye in the yolk a good indicator (apart from candling) that fertilization is happening...in general?

Recommendations for a candler? Incubator? I'm wondering about those ones that do a dozen or less? Are they decent to start with? Or should I just get a larger one? I know humidity here can be an issue.
 
bunsnpupsnchick said:
Good to know. I'll definitely locate the coolest, darkest spot in the house when I start collecting. For now, I might let a hen hatch out when/if one goes broody. My older ones that are a bit over a year old, I'm sure they're not 2 yet, have just started their first molt. My older sexlink is coming out of her molt. The hens, my roo doesn't look to be starting or at least not loosing as many feathers yet.

Is it best to use eggs from the hens that are past their first molt or is it ok to use younger? Is the bullseye in the yolk a good indicator (apart from candling) that fertilization is happening...in general?

Recommendations for a candler? Incubator? I'm wondering about those ones that do a dozen or less? Are they decent to start with? Or should I just get a larger one? I know humidity here can be an issue.
Click to expand...

As a general rule, roosters don't seem to molt as heavily as the hens do. Let's face it....their bodies just don't have to work as hard as the girls' do.

Age of the bird isn't necessarily the most important variable when deciding when to use a bird's eggs. If you're dealing with a larger fowl that will lay large to jumbo eggs when mature, I would recommend not hatching anything weighing less than 1.8 ounces. It's also very important to pay attention to egg shape and shell quality. Torpedo shaped eggs generally don't hatch well because there's not enough room inside for the chick to move around properly and it will often suffocate. Excessively porous eggs may dry out too quickly. And yes, the bulls-eye is a good indicator, especially if it's very prominent.

I know of a few people who hatch out half a dozen eggs in one of those little Brinsea incubators and rave about them. As far as the larger Brinsea are concerned, I've read both good and bad reviews. My personal choice was the Rcom Max 20 because it's "dummy proof", which is precisely what I needed. It does an excellent job of maintaining both humidity and temperature, but I also had a very successful hatch in the inexpensive Hovabator.

Here's a really good page to get you started: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101
 
DesertChic said:
As a general rule, roosters don't seem to molt as heavily as the hens do. Let's face it....their bodies just don't have to work as hard as the girls' do.

Age of the bird isn't necessarily the most important variable when deciding when to use a bird's eggs. If you're dealing with a larger fowl that will lay large to jumbo eggs when mature, I would recommend not hatching anything weighing less than 1.8 ounces. It's also very important to pay attention to egg shape and shell quality. Torpedo shaped eggs generally don't hatch well because there's not enough room inside for the chick to move around properly and it will often suffocate. Excessively porous eggs may dry out too quickly. And yes, the bulls-eye is a good indicator, especially if it's very prominent.

I know of a few people who hatch out half a dozen eggs in one of those little Brinsea incubators and rave about them. As far as the larger Brinsea are concerned, I've read both good and bad reviews. My personal choice was the Rcom Max 20 because it's "dummy proof", which is precisely what I needed. It does an excellent job of maintaining both humidity and temperature, but I also had a very successful hatch in the inexpensive Hovabator.

Here's a really good page to get you started: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101
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Makes sense.

Thank you for the information & link. I'll probably do best with something like you have. For learning I'm good with something inexpensive & work my way into better.

I hadn't thought about weighing the eggs! I've gotta get a little kitchen scale.

Hoping information sticks/clicks & I'll be hatching before the end of next year.
 

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