Best time of year for inubating shipped eggs?

[poularde]

Hello everyone! It has been two months + since incubating eggs. This is my first year of incubating eggs and I tried four batches this year with shipped eggs. I have had mixed results. I will incubate again.

There is so many factors that effect shipped eggs that I hope to find more local eggs. I hope to not have to ship eggs and I can hardly wait to incubate my own. What I am curious about is when most of you like to incubate and order shipped eggs. I had better results with eggs when it was cooler, (April, May.) I am also worried about acclimating the chicks outside. If anyone wants to share their knowledge or experience please share.

I hope to improve my hatches as much as possible.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Happy Chooks]

It depends.

Fertility tends to drop off in winter, and some eggs may not be for sale due to hens molting. I have had great hatches during late spring with shipped eggs. However, this is also peak hatching time for others, so you could end up paying a higher price from more bidding.

If you have the place to brood the chicks in cool weather, then fall would be perfect from a price standpoint because there are less people hatching then. I have hatched chicks out as late as 10/23 and they did fine over winter. Plus come spring, they were laying!

Of course, I love to hatch, so anytime is fine with me!

 

[poularde]

This gives me the perfect excuse to order some more eggs.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Why of course!

Add to it that you are in WA, so your winters are mild - You're in chick city baby!

 

[poularde]

 

[chickenbottom]

i believe this is the best time to hatch even though i like spring chicks but getting into the fall they are laying by spring and there for i sell more eggs so its a win win situation i dont sell much during fall or winter and i sell tons during spring and into the summer. im just about to do button quail in about a week or so.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Spring time eggs seem to have better hatch rates, but fall can work too. I actually have some eggs in my bator on day 13 that are coming along nicely.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
I got a broody on Day 13 also. We'll be hatching together!

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
I got a broody on Day 13 also. We'll be hatching together!

 

[Illia]

Better off, you should get some awesome colored hatching eggs right from you own state. . .