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[Leighe]

That won't be killing any developing chicks will it? I also worry about mating as I've heard it's pretty rough on the hens.

If you don't want chicks you don't incubate them, whether in an incubator or having a broody mom sit on them. You can pick up eggs daily....and if your eggs are all being fertilized by a rooster...you can put them in your house (don't refrigerate, though I've heard some have). When you have a hen that goes broody, you take some eggs from your house (preferably the freshest ones, though I've seen somewhere even eggs up to two weeks) and place them under the hen and her sitting on them will allow the chicks to start growing and hatch out will be 21-23 days later. This way they all hatch at around the same time. You will never be killing developing chicks unless you have taken them from a broody hen who has sat on them for 3 or more days or you take them out of an incubator before they hatch. The eggs are fertilized but never develop into a chick until they are sat on or incubated.....

 

[Aspen Anderson]

If you don't want chicks you don't incubate them, whether in an incubator or having a broody mom sit on them. You can pick up eggs daily....and if your eggs are all being fertilized by a rooster...you can put them in your house (don't refrigerate, though I've heard some have). When you have a hen that goes broody, you take some eggs from your house (preferably the freshest ones, though I've seen somewhere even eggs up to two weeks) and place them under the hen and her sitting on them will allow the chicks to start growing and hatch out will be 21-23 days later. This way they all hatch at around the same time. You will never be killing developing chicks unless you have taken them from a broody hen who has sat on them for 3 or more days or you take them out of an incubator before they hatch. The eggs are fertilized but never develop into a chick until they are sat on or incubated.....

So if I don't want chicks, I just take the eggs immediately from the laying box and put it in the fridge? That won't be killing any chicks? I don't want chicks, but I also don't want to kill any that would be in the eggs, just because I find that sad.

I hope I'm not sounding annoying, I just want to make absolute certain that it's okay.

 

[Aspen Anderson]

Eggs don't spontaneously develop into chicks. No incubation, no chicks. Simple as that. It takes at least 3 days of being kept at a near constant 100* for an embryo to start to form.

Okay thank you! This makes me feel better.

And I know they don't spontaneously turn into chicks, but I don't want to kill an embryo. If there is no embryo, then I'm good!

 

[TheCochinMomma]

Right right and to add to my last post, looks like he has multiple spikes on his comb (more than 5) which means he has some other breed in him for sure.

Yes it was a feed store

 

[Leighe]

So if I don't want chicks, I just take the eggs immediately from the laying box and put it in the fridge? That won't be killing any chicks? I don't want chicks, but I also don't want to kill any that would be in the eggs, just because I find that sad.

I hope I'm not sounding annoying, I just want to make absolute certain that it's okay.

You are not in anyway sounding annoying. You sound like someone who wants to learn. If you don't want chicks you just never put them under a hen or in an incubator. Doesn't matter if you refrigerate or not. I don't refrigerate my eggs but I know some people do. No you will not be killing any chicks. Chicks do not start growing inside an egg until they have been in about 100 degrees (whether thats under a hen or in an incubator). Eggs have to have high heat to start even growing a chick and I think it's like Day 3 of high heat before a chick starts developing. I'd have to go look at my notes. I choose when I want to have chicks by either letting my broody hens have eggs to "sit on" for 21-23 days or by incubating eggs for 21-23 days. But I eat or sell all the eggs I collect daily until I decide I want to deal with chicks. I hope I haven't confused you more...

 

[DesertBird]

Not sure if anyone will be able to help me, but any idea what breed this chick (and it's 4 unpictured siblings) are? It should be about 4 days old, and was sexed as a pullet - I'd just like to know if it's a Red Sex-Link or Production Red?

Got some chicks at TSC today, and this was labeled as a Sicilian Buttercup, which I've been told it's not. The breed really isn't a huge deal to me, but I'd like to know just in the hopes that I don't end up with another bully breed. Sorry the camera quality is so bad, but they do seem to have little black lines or at least sort of dots on their heads.

 

[JK Farms]

Ok here are more pics of the Orpington!

Bump

 

[junebuggena]

Bump

Still a cockerel. Those spots of red through the wing area are male specific.

 

[JK Farms]

And here is the Rhode Island Red one! The second to last pic is of the for sure hen on the right and the maybe rooster on the left! Then the last pic is of the hen!

Bump

 

[JK Farms]

Still a cockerel. Those spots of red through the wing area are male specific.

I hope not!!!! I can't sell Nutmeg she or he is a pet somewhat!!!!! She doesn't act like a rooster she's sweet and really general! Plus she's in love with my Jersey giant roo!!!