Fertility in New Layer

[mylilchix]

I have a hen who started laying on the 19th. She's been laying an egg every other day since she started. I'm thinking about putting a couple of her eggs under a broody to test fertility. She is in with a roo. Can you hatch chicks from a new layer or should I wait a little longer?

Thanks,
Sonja

 

[paddock36]

When my Serama hen started laying for the very first time I let her keep her eggs, partly because they were hidden from me and I didn't know how long they had been there, anyway she laid 10 eggs and 9 of the 10 hatched. The tenth egg was smaller than the rest so I didn't think it was going to be fertile and I was right. So I would say your chances are as good as any.

 

[mylilchix]

Thank you very much for the advice. I'm going to clean the bator up and set some of her eggs. It's my mottled bantam cochin, and we've been waiting for her to lay for a while!! Can't wait for babies!

Sonja

 

[Joyryder]

I don't think you will get fertile eggs until your pullet becomes a hen when she turns 1.
Jo

 

[mylilchix]

No, I've hatched eggs from my pullets who were less than a year old. The first time was when the hen had only been laying for 2 months. My older flock was only 8 months old when I tried. This hen and roo are almost 7 months old. I just haven't tried with a hen that started laying a week ago.

Sonja

 

[Joyryder]

Quote:
I guess I got wrong information. But now Im excited! I can have some baby chicks MUCH sooner than I thought! YEAH!

You made my day Sonja.

 

[mylilchix]

I'm so glad I did!!!

I think a lot of it depends on the roo. Our boy has been getting busy an dgiving me beautiful babies.

This baby is from my recent hatch from my blue cochin roo and my white cochin hen.

Sonja

 

[Joyryder]

Beautiful chick!

 

[mylilchix]

Thank you!! It was 4 weeks old when I took that.

 

[paddock36]

He/she is cute. But I have to say this, Holy cow look at the size of those feet