Hatch rate

[Lili Smith]

I have 10 eggs in my incubator and only 3 are fertile, is this a very bad fertility rate, how many do you guys get fertile?

 

[SeaPolka]

Usually all of my own chickens' eggs are fertile, if I'm breeding I keep only three maybe four hens per cockerel as he will chose favourites and some won't get mated enough if at all. I've bought eggs from auctions before and got maybe half fertile but then you don't know how long they've been stood or how they've been stored or anything about where they came from. I bought ten Welsummer, five were fertile but two died on about day 14. What day is it you're candling them on?

 

[Lili Smith]

It is day 7

 

[song of joy]

I usually have 100% fertility in my flock (approx. 1:8 rooster to hen ratio).

I'd recommend candling again on day 10 to be absolutely sure about fertility.

 

[Pork Pie]

Before setting eggs, I usually check an egg from each hen, to check for fertility. This link is helpful:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures