I'm new to this! I want chicks :)

[Tazwell]

Hello, I'm new to the forum

I have a Barred Rock Rooster, and a Australorp hen (Not a great ratio, I know...). I bought them 5 or 6 years ago, along with two others that have since passed away, as assorted poultry at my local Tractor Supply store.

Anyway, the hen still lays eggs, and she always has, but she has never become broody and tried to hatch them. I always figured it was because we had only 2 hens to one rooster. But I don't know if that's the reason.

I was thinking, a few days ago, that I would like to hatch some of her eggs. My dad wants to hatch them by putting them in a box, with a lightbulb. I don't even want to try that, I'm sure it won't work. I can't keep track of humidity and temperature that well

I saw on ebay, very small incubators (3 egg capacity), for only $20. I was thinking of buying one of those. Do they work?

I'm just looking for the easiest way to hatch some eggs. Nothing big, only a few eggs, a one-time deal. I want so badly for the hen to become broody, that would make me very happy

But I'm sure she's not going to do that for me. Are there any tricks or things that I could try to see if she will hatch her own eggs? Remove the rooster temporarily, maybe?

And if I do incubate the eggs, How should I collect them? I've read that they should be collected every day, and stored in a cool (55-60 degrees ) place, pointy-side down until I have enough. Then add them all to the incubator at the same time. Is this correct? How long can they last without becoming too old to hatch?



So um... Any tips or suggestions for a beginner?

And by the way... What is the typical lifespan of a chicken? And a bantam chicken? We have a banty, too

 

[panner123]

Your Dad is correct, if you can keep the temperture at 100 degree, the humidity atournd 50 and turn the eggs three times per day, it should work. The only preblem being the age of your chickens. As for your hen not going broody, the reason could be that you collect the egg every time she lays. Place a couple of plastic eggs in her nest box, and don't collect the eggs for a week. That should make her broody. Once she turms broody she will kick the plastic eggs out or you can take them out. If you can get a hen or two betweem 1 and 2 years old, that being the best age for a hen to turn broody.

 

[Tazwell]

Thank you for the reply!

We don't collect the eggs every day, at all. For the past couple of years, we just leave them in there until there are about 20, but then I figure they will go rotten.

If I were to attempt to hatch the eggs without an incubator, how could I do that? Could i just use 1 or 2 regular incandescent lamps, or work lamps, or would I use a heat lamp designed for animals/chickens? Would the surface temperature of the eggs be 100, or how would I gauge the temperature? Just the air in the box?

Would it just be easier to buy one of those small incubators, even if I'm only trying this once?

And uh... Sorry about all the questions