How long can you collect eggs before incubating them?

[free_loader]

Quote:
she most likely would not recognize it as her own... if she hasn't gone broody, she will not be expecting chicks... i would not put them togeather

 

[knotty]

Thanks, I won't try it then. It was just a thought as I am sure that both of them are pretty lonely.

 

[al6517]

Quote:
This all correct and exactly the way I do it.
I have with considerable effort rigged and tweeked my homemade cabinet incubator to where all I have to do is collect eggs, set them every 10 day's in up to 5 different batches, remove them at day 18 and put them into the hatcher which is in the same incubator. All without ever touching the thermostat or changing any humidity levels, which works both in the same chamber. The temps stay rock solid as does the humidity for both incubating and hatching. It has taken the worry out of everything hatching related and I can now just churn out a new batch of 50 chicks every 10 day's.

 

[lotzahenz]

Quote:
My guess is she would peck at it, maybe kill it. Shiloh most likely would not listen to her. However, in my experience, I have had chicks like that take up with older birds who adored them. My biggest surprise was a way too red baby roo who I needed to cull. He was about 2 weeks old, so I let him in with the big guys. He took up with my young (then) Tom Turkey. I'll post you a pic. It's really risky though, as hens are way meaner to chicks and have no idea if they are related.

look closely inbetween the wing, that little dark spot is his head.

Best of luck. HenZ

 

[williamsl77]

Quote:
My guess is she would peck at it, maybe kill it. Shiloh most likely would not listen to her. However, in my experience, I have had chicks like that take up with older birds who adored them. My biggest surprise was a way too red baby roo who I needed to cull. He was about 2 weeks old, so I let him in with the big guys. He took up with my young (then) Tom Turkey. I'll post you a pic. It's really risky though, as hens are way meaner to chicks and have no idea if they are related.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/15071_100_2749.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/15071_100_2752.jpg
look closely inbetween the wing, that little dark spot is his head.

Best of luck. HenZ

Oh, my goodness!! I love that picture! What a sweetie. What happened to this little roo?