First time questions!

[aguy14]

Hello all, My first hen has started to lay eggs and its brought my mindset into a whole new place and I have so many questions that I could use some advice for. When we first got chickens we had the intentions to use them primarily for eggs. When we realized we had a rooster I had to deal with the fact that I would be eating fertile eggs, I am a naturalist and value life although I am not vegetarian or vegan. Now that our first eggs are coming in I'm starting to want to try incubation for the experience. Also, I am a middle school science teacher in downtown West Palm and think the kids would love to incubate an egg or two in the classroom. My questions are:
1. Will these first eggs be able to hatch healthy chicks, if incubated right? They are small.
2. If I incubate an egg myself and introduce the young back to the flock will they accept it and will the momma know it is her chick.
3. How soon can I use the candling method to look inside the egg? I've only had them two days and see nothing so far.
4. Your probably going to laugh at this one, but is the mother hen sad when we take her eggs? She doesn't seem upset but I feel so bad taking her potential babies
I think that's it for now. Thank you for any advice you can give.
Amber

 

[sumi]

1. First eggs are not ideal for incubation, as they are small "practice" eggs. Wait a week or 2.
2. You should wait until the youngsters are a few weeks old before introducing them. Bigger chickens can be bullies! The egg donor will not know it's her biological chicks.
3. Some people say to wait until day 7 before candling, as you can't see much before then and it's better not to disturb the eggs too much in the first week.
4. My hens get P'd off with me when I take their eggs! They just get sad when they hatch chicks and you take them away, so don't worry.