I've never tried hatching chicks before

[jaseg]

Hi guys, I'm sure this has been written about before in the forums in the past, but i've never hatched any chicks before so my first question is;

After you have your incubator and everything is set, do I just take freshly laid eggs from the coop and put them in?

 

[Hotwings]

I never hatched chicks by incubator. Do you have a broody hen? I am not a fan of incubators. I think it is much easier to let the hen do the work, although I do realise that some breeds won't sit on their eggs or go broody. I think having a surogote broody hen will do the job. Buffs are excellent broodies and great mothers. I would think putting the eggs directly in a incubator would be ok, but I am not experienced with them so I can't say 100%.

 

[chrissieg]

Just as long as you have a rooster!

 

[aran]

there is a really interesting article in the learning center on this ...definitely got me thinking.

 

[setting_silkie]

You just want to make sure that you put all the eggs in at the same time. It's best to have them all hatch out at the same time. Dealing with chicks of different ages can sometimes be a bear...they are so picky!!

 

[setting_silkie]

Oh yeah, and just like Chisseig said...you gotta have a rooster in order for them to be fertile!! Otherwise...no chicks.