Ok, so I tried to get my hen broody a month ago and left eggs in her box. However, she had no interest on sitting on them after she lays. She is up and out and doesn't return until night. I really wanted to add a few more chickens and thought the best way would be to hatch a few. So, I've decided to take matters into my own hands.. My questions: 1.) I basically let her lay 6 eggs, leaving all of them in the nest. I just pulled them out. I would assume that these would be OK to incubate. I only ask because several of them have sat in there for days. 2.) Do I need to do anything to prepare the eggs. Seems like it would be best to not wash them or anything, but I am unsure. 3.) Its October and I live in the Midwest so its going to slowly start getting cooler. Is this a bad time to try and hatch some chicks? If I started today and it took 21 days, it would almost be November before they hatched. Just worried about the cold. Obviously I know I'd need to keep them warm for a few months. 4.) The six eggs I have, if It takes me a few days to build an incubator is there something specific I need to do with these eggs? Keep them wrapped up.. Put them in the fridge.. Anything? Or just room temperature? 5.) Is there any way to tell if eggs are fertilized ahead of time? I know my hen and rooster mate quite a bit so I'd assume they were but it would be nice to know this for sure. Thanks in advance!! Kyle
1) yes those eggs should be okay to incubate, eggs can remain viable for up to ten days usually if kept at room temperature 2) the general rule is to not use dirty eggs as the dirt can penetrate the shell and kill the embryo 3) the chicks will need to remain inside under a suitable heat lamp for 4-6 weeks at least at they cannot regulate their own body temperature, some breeders I know tend to avoid incubating at this time of year, but the decision is yours. 4) store the eggs pointy end down in an egg box at room temperature, keep away from sunlight and extremes of temperatures 5) if you candle the eggs 7 days after being placed in the incubator you should see a tiny embryo and veins , if the egg is clear then it isn't fertile and should be disposed of. Hope this has helped , feel free to ask anything else
I'm somewhat new at incubating, but I'll try and help you out... Quote: #1,#2and #4 (1) Your eggs should be fine - Hens will sit on more than a dozen eggs to hatch, and if it's only one hen at least one of those eggs has been sitting almost 2 weeks already. They all start developing at the same time. (2) Do NOT wash the eggs - We agreed to hatch for someone else, and they washed the eggs after being told several times not to. None of the eggs hatched, and one exploded in the 'bator (4) Put the eggs in an egg carton, find a closet or something that is out of the way of draft, put the egg carton in there, flip the carton every day. NEVER put eggs you want to hatch in the fridge!! #3 (Not exactly in my experience, we're done incubating for the year) If you have a garage or basement you can keep them there until they're fully feathered #5 I think you'll probably have to wait a week or so AFTER you start incubating to really tell if they're developing...I don't know of any way to be sure if a freshly laid egg is fertile. Maybe someone else can help you there... There are some great homemade incubators in the forum. Good luck......and beware - the urge to hatch any egg you come across will be great! Resistance is futile!!
