fertile eggcitement

[LizaBlue]

First time chickener, got our babies as day-olds April 14th and they started laying around a month ago. We have 7 hens and 2 roosters (due to neighbor's dog

) and the hens are giving us 3-4 eggs a day. So eggcited this morning when I cracked 6 eggs and (after comparing to photos on here) realized all were fertile!

Hubby asked if I wanted to rush out and get an incubator for the girls, but I want to wait til spring - better for chicks, and I figure any babies hatched now would have a high rate of deformities and mortality.

Just wanted to share

 

[NonnasBabies]

Congrats!! Means you've got some goos roos there doing their job!!

 

[somadlyinlove]

Quote:
Why would you think that the chicks would have a high rate of deformities and mortality? Many hens raise chicks right through the winter although I do think if you are planning on raising them without moms help it's easier in the spring or summer, because you can put them out sooner.
If your hens are healthy and well fed then you are not likely to have any problems with deformities, a small percentage of mortality happens but I haven't heard of any difference with regard to the time of year or the age of the parent chickens.

congrads!!

 

[LizaBlue]

I just read that for the first few months or so there was a higher chance for poorly developed chicks. My hens were born mid-April, and I really didn't expect them to start laying until October. The eggs are still pretty small compared to store-bought, except for one double size one we haven't cracked yet that I'm betting has 2 yolks - it barely fit in the carton! I just think the chicks will have a better chance if the eggs are normal size at least...