Is it safe to hatch out a hen's first eggs?

[crazy4eggsJulie]

NOT the VERY FIRST eggs, but within a few weeks or so?

I'm still very new to the world of chickens. I'm learning as fast as I can, but haven't run across anything about this yet.

If my newly laying pullets are in a run with a rooster...assuming he does his job...is it fine to hatch out the fertile eggs right away?

Is there a certain amount of time you are supposed to wait? Will the chicks be healthy, etc? I've noticed that many people make comments that the eggs are smaller in the beginning. Does this play a role in it? Can chicks form fine in small eggs from the beginning of a hen's laying cycle?

Also, can someone explain to me what to do with the eggs while I am waiting to get more to incubate? Thanks!

 

[Featherland]

I would wait until the eggs are a normal size which shouldn't be too long. I think it is better for the chick to have enough room to develop. I would gather eggs for a few days and keep them in an egg carton in a cool place. Not the fridge. Put something under the edge of one side of the carton to raise it up. About 12 hours later change the end you have raised and continue to do this until you have enough eggs.

 

[lisahaschickens]

I have absolutly no clue and would be interested to hear what others have to say. I do know that I have read before that you are supposed to wait until hens and roosters are a year old or more before hatching their eggs. I really don't know if that's true or not or if it would make any difference. Perhaps that would only hold true if you wanted the hen to mother the chicks herself? This is a good question.

 

[Jameberlin]

I've been curious about this too. I know my pullet eggs are fertile, but they're so tiny still i don't think a chick would have enough room to develop properly. Still, i think do wild chickens wait until they're a year old before they go broody?

 

[saddina]

Wait 2-3 weeks after first egg, so they have begun laying full sized eggs.

As to what to do with pullet eggs, you eat them, may I suggest an omlette?

 

[crazy4eggsJulie]

Quote:

That's funny! Of course I know to eat them.

I read somewhere about collecting them and turning them until I have several to put in the bator at the same time. I'm a detail person. Can anyone give a detailed explaination of how to do that and anything special I shouldn't forget?
Thanks!

 

[1lpoock]

I put my leghorns first egg in the bator (actually the first egg I've ever got from chickens), and it is day 9 and I can see veins and an embryo...

 

[Ranchwithaview]

I put my leghorns first egg in the bator (actually the first egg I've ever got from chickens), and it is day 9 and I can see veins and an embryo...

How did it go?

 

[Acre4Me]

How did it go?

@Ranchwithaview this thread is nearly 10 years old! The posters haven't been active recently. You can click on a poster’s name to see when they were last active.

If you have the same question, post it in the Incubating and hatching eggs forum.

 

[Ranchwithaview]

@Ranchwithaview this thread is nearly 10 years old! The posters haven't been active recently. You can click on a poster’s name to see when they were last active.

If you have the same question, post it in the Incubating and hatching eggs forum.

I saw that it was old, but I was still hoping to learn how it went. Next time I will check to see if the person is still active. Thanks.