July Hatch-A-Long

[chickiebaby1]

AUG

, this waiting is horrible. I have 33 eggs that don't go to lock down till a week from today. I had been setting where I would get one hatch a week, but I kinda started to run out of room so I had to slow down a bit. Now I have my bathtub brooder( for just hatched -3 weeks), a kids swimming pool brooder (for 3-6 week olds), a pack and play play pen (for 6-9 weeks) and a nicer big grow out pen for them until they can join the bigger birds. The grow out pen is in the yard with the rest of the birds so they can get used to being seen and so they can get some grass and bugs. I am going to now just be setting every 21 days. But the waiting is awful.

Question:: I have a white leghorn that just started laying last week. I know she is being mated, how long before her eggs would be fertile. I didn't know if they would automatically be fertile or if it takes time. The roo is just a little bit older than her ( prob 20 weeks or so). Are they fertile that early. Because he sure likes to practice a lot.

 

[kristianhope18]

It seems like you are about a week behind on this thread and so maybe you were not in touch with the tone of the thread at the time, but when someone is really worried about their ducks and some of us are trying to be supportive and you chime in just to mention how your ducks all died... well, your timing wasn't great and it felt quite insensitive at the time.  I am sure you can imagine how that might have upset someone, even if that was not your intention.    None of us is perfect,  and maybe just acknowledging the misunderstanding is more helpful than blaming someone for being upset.

I don't get on this site daily! Regardless of what was being said I was simply stating that duck eggs can be hard to hatch! I'm pretty experienced with hatching eggs and even I have a hard time with them! That's not a rude or negative comment in anyway! Its what happened! That is a possibility unfortunately people hafta consider when hatching eggs! That's like someone asking for help with cocci and someone saying "well I tried antibiotics in mines drinking water and hand feeding it yogurt and using vetrx but despite me giving my very best it still died" that is a possibility and a normal person wouldn't be offended by that!

 

[chippysmom327]

AUG , this waiting is horrible. I have 33 eggs that don't go to lock down till a week from today. I had been setting where I would get one hatch a week, but I kinda started to run out of room so I had to slow down a bit. Now I have my bathtub brooder( for just hatched -3 weeks), a kids swimming pool brooder (for 3-6 week olds), a pack and play play pen (for 6-9 weeks) and a nicer big grow out pen for them until they can join the bigger birds. The grow out pen is in the yard with the rest of the birds so they can get used to being seen and so they can get some grass and bugs. I am going to now just be setting every 21 days. But the waiting is awful.

Question:: I have a white leghorn that just started laying last week. I know she is being mated, how long before her eggs would be fertile. I didn't know if they would automatically be fertile or if it takes time. The roo is just a little bit older than her ( prob 20 weeks or so). Are they fertile that early. Because he sure likes to practice a lot.

They'll be fertile right now. I had a 12 week old roo fertililizing eggs a while back. He was mean so we got rid of him. If your hen's old enough to lay, they'll be fertile. Unless she rejects the sperm. I doubt it though. You can tell if eggs are fertile or not by looking at the yolk in the pan.

 

[StarMeKritten]

Question:: I have a white leghorn that just started laying last week. I know she is being mated, how long before her eggs would be fertile. I didn't know if they would automatically be fertile or if it takes time. The roo is just a little bit older than her ( prob 20 weeks or so). Are they fertile that early. Because he sure likes to practice a lot.

I just hatched some first eggs from a few of my girls because I wanted to see if they were fertile and by which rooster. 3/4 of them hatched and the other was not fertile. Two were by my young australorp rooster and the other one was from my buff Easter Egger. Chances are, if he's "practicing" a lot, they're probably fertile!

 

[darkbluespace]

I don't get on this site daily! Regardless of what was being said I was simply stating that duck eggs can be hard to hatch! I'm pretty experienced with hatching eggs and even I have a hard time with them! That's not a rude or negative comment in anyway! Its what happened! That is a possibility unfortunately people hafta consider when hatching eggs! That's like someone asking for help with cocci and someone saying "well I tried antibiotics in mines drinking water and hand feeding it yogurt and using vetrx but despite me giving my very best it still died" that is a possibility and a normal person wouldn't be offended by that!

I totally get what you are saying and understand that you were not at all trying to be unkind. That is why I think this is really just a misunderstanding. For myself, when someone is upset, I think about what would be helpful to say... what would help a person to feel more confident or at ease. For me, that is more important than the stark truth that their eggs may not hatch. They are already worried about that and I prefer to err on the side of being hopeful and supportive. Even if someone's eggs don't hatch, they still have the kindness of the people who cared and I think that is why we are all here.

 

[boyswillbeboys]

I just hatched some first eggs from a few of my girls because I wanted to see if they were fertile and by which rooster. 3/4 of them hatched and the other was not fertile. Two were by my young australorp rooster and the other one was from my buff Easter Egger. Chances are, if he's "practicing" a lot, they're probably fertile!

Yay, then I may have EE chicks in this hatch, and more than likely in the next if I go through with an Aug hatch

 

[feedman77]

Was able to get under my broody hen today and she had 8 eggs left that should be due on 21st or so.

Out of the 8 only 4 were developing good. So I tossed 4 bad ones.

Not holding much hope.

Hatched 5 of 8 in incubator on 6th. Had issues and none made it.

Still have 8 in bator for the 30th or aug. 1st. That are going good.

July hatches have been kinda rough.

If lucky will post back some pics. If not hope all have good hatches.

 

[blkjak]

Day 22 out of 17 eggs I have 11 mixed chicks. One with curled toes (boots on) and one with slight splay leg (hobbles on). 9 healthy. 3 eggs left in the bator. Lost 3.

 

[Vtoraya]

AUG

, this waiting is horrible. I have 33 eggs that don't go to lock down till a week from today. I had been setting where I would get one hatch a week, but I kinda started to run out of room so I had to slow down a bit. Now I have my bathtub brooder( for just hatched -3 weeks), a kids swimming pool brooder (for 3-6 week olds), a pack and play play pen (for 6-9 weeks) and a nicer big grow out pen for them until they can join the bigger birds. The grow out pen is in the yard with the rest of the birds so they can get used to being seen and so they can get some grass and bugs. I am going to now just be setting every 21 days. But the waiting is awful.

Question:: I have a white leghorn that just started laying last week. I know she is being mated, how long before her eggs would be fertile. I didn't know if they would automatically be fertile or if it takes time. The roo is just a little bit older than her ( prob 20 weeks or so). Are they fertile that early. Because he sure likes to practice a lot.

Could you wait one month more at least? It would be better for future chicks` health. But i am sure your chickens are ready to be parents !!!!

 

[chickieluver26]

Well I ended up loosing all my eggs... not a good first hatch attempt