How do I know when to start hatching my eggs!?

[Orpington2813]

I got a new rooster a few days ago and am just wondering how to tell when I should start hatching the eggs? Do I have to see him "in the act" or just hope that they are fertile or what? In case you didn't notice I have never hatched eggs before. Any advice is helpful.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I got a new rooster a few days ago and am just wondering how to tell when I should start hatching the eggs? Do I have to see him "in the act" or just hope that they are fertile or what? In case you didn't notice I have never hatched eggs before. Any advice is helpful.

Welcome to BYC!

Are you doing a quarantine for your new roo or have you already introduced him to the hens? Once he has been with the hens for a couple of weeks, crack a few "test eggs" and examine the germinal disc on the yolk (if you have eggs in the refrigerator from before his arrival use some of them for comparison so you can be familiar with and easily see the difference). An infertile egg will have a plain looking germinal disc, a fertile egg will show a distinct "bullseye" in the germinal disc. When your test eggs are showing consisten fertility, start saving eggs for setting.

 

[Orpington2813]

I just put him in with them yesterday. Thanks for the help!