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.) 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