Hatching pullet eggs?

[marlene]

I have a couple of breeds that i would like to hatch out their eggs to keep my stock replenished, 1 of the breeds has been laying for about 3 weeks now and the other is due to start laying but has not as yet.
My question is how long should i wait to hatch pullet eggs? If i hatch from small pullet eggs, will the birds i hatch be smaller and grow to be smaller? as my aim is to hatch these breeds because they are large breeds and i want to keep the true size of them.

 

[wowmanacat]

I would wait a month or so. I waited about 1 to 2 months before setting any of my eggs from my first time layers. I am going to be getting rid of one of my roosters so I wanted some like him.

 

[Wyogirl]

I hatched my Lav Orp pullet eggs and the chicks were little but grew fast! I can't tell the difference now size wise beween the "older" egg hatch vs. pullet. It was her 3rd or 4th egg, I don't remember.
Ayda
Good Luck

 

[marlene]

Thank you for the replies.
Will wait a few more weeks and then fill my bator with the eggs from the pullets that are already laying.
Their eggs are slowly getting bigger, so i think waiting 2 more weeks will be good, plus the weather will be a bit warmer for when they hatch.
What is the best way to store the eggs and what is the ideal temp they should be stored at before incubating?

 

[Ilovemyduckies]

I don't think they could develop right in a small egg... You should wait until they get a little bigger.

 

[LilyD]

I am just reaching hatching with my pullet eggs they are a little smaller than full size hen eggs but so far I have 3 babies that are all very spunky and I have 10 more pips that are hatching. I did wait about 6 weeks after they started laying before I actually grabbed up eggs to hatch but so far it's looking like a pretty good hatch for me.

 

[mstricer]

If setting pullet eggs make sure they are normal size and not too small, the chicks go the same size and have problems turning when zipping. I think you are making the right choose to wait.
Michele

 

[cashdl]

I personally wouldn't worry about it and don't. I hatch out of my pullet eggs all the time and sometimes the babies are smaller but they catch up really fast. I hatch chicks every week all year long. I take the eggs when I can get them. Sometimes my pullets are the only ones laying.

Lanae

 

[marlene]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to share your experiences of hatching pullet eggs.
I am not in a rush to hatch, as long as i get some new chicks brooded before the winter comes, i will be happy. They will be for new laying stock come next year, so i am happy to wait a few weeks to a month, to give the pullet eggs a chance to grow a bit and for the weather to warm up a bit before i start brooding.