Incubating-so.many.questions!

[NuttHouse]

Hi I have been a chicken mom for about a year. I am interested in hatching some of my own eggs. Is this even possible? I am getting so many mixed opinions on whether it’s possible to do it with my own backyard eggs vs it’s best to order eggs online. I am also wanting to try duck eggs. Can I incubate them together? I will take any advice y’all can throw my way!

 

[2 many chickens]

If your eggs are fertile I think you would have a better chance at hatching your own. Shipped eggs are sometimes less likely to hatch then ones right out in your backyard.

 

[Rammy]

Duck eggs take 28 days to incubate. Chickens are 21. Its possible to put them both in together to hatch, but the duck eggs would need to go in three days earlier for them to hatch at the same time.

Ordering eggs online can be expensive and a crap shoot. Depending where you buy from and the cost of shipping vs. the amount that hatch, it might not be a great option. The eggs go thru alot of handling before you get them so that may or may not determine how many hatch. Plus, you may have several that are not fertile, separated air sacs, etc.

If you have a rooster, I see no reason why you cant hatch some of your own.

 

[NuttHouse]

So if I collect a duck egg per day for 5 days and then put them in together will they all hatch at the same time? I read online that it takes a hen two weeks sometimes to collect enough eggs to hatch and that they would still be good. So technically they can be kept at room temp until I’m ready to incubate at the same time?

 

[007Sean]

First and foremost, if you never have incubated any eggs before now, do research on incubating, research which incubator would be 'best for you'! Ask questions here, with the internet you may not always get an answer from an 'experienced' person.
It's best to incubate your own eggs, the only reason for ordering eggs is to try and hatch something you don't have or want.

If you decide to incubate your own, the best advice I can give you at this time is, get 2 or 3 thermometers and hygrometers and calibrate them so you will know 'exactly' what the temerature and humidity is in the incubator your using.
Most of the cheap incubators, have very unreliable sensors, and it's better to rely on the independent monitors that you have calibrated.
Good luck and happy hatching!