Lavender Orpington project ....

[wonachickencooptoday]

So I have my own project going on. Bought lavender eggs on Ebay and now my first hen laid her first egg. How long should I wait til I start incubating the eggs? I have a rooster of course, but need to know how big the egg should be before incubating? Thank you.

 

[chixmix]

So I have my own project going on. Bought lavender eggs on Ebay and now my first hen laid her first egg. How long should I wait til I start incubating the eggs? I have a rooster of course, but need to know how big the egg should be before incubating? Thank you.

The early eggs are the best ones in my opinion. If they are fertile, incubate them.

 

[wonachickencooptoday]

Thank you Chixmix,
But they are tiny??? Will a chick develop in the smaller eggs?

 

[SassysMom]

Rule of thumb, best to incubate in the 1st 7 days after the eggs are laid. After that the hatching rate can start to decline. How old is the hen that laid her 1st egg? It's not unusual for the first few eggs to be smaller.

Happy Hatching!

 

[CherokeeFlats]

My name is Crystal. My aunt in PA is looking for some Lavender Orpingtons. Hatching eggs or chicks is ok. If you have something let me know.

Thanks in advance

 

[wonachickencooptoday]

Rule of thumb, best to incubate in the 1st 7 days after the eggs are laid. After that the hatching rate can start to decline. How old is the hen that laid her 1st egg? It's not unusual for the first few eggs to be smaller.

Happy Hatching!

The hen is just 5 months old and small eggs, My question is can the chick develop ok in the small egg?? Or is it better to wait til they are a bit bigger? I took the little egg and stuck it under my broody hen. So will see what happens. Thanks for all the answers. Love this forum!

 

[SassysMom]

Hi wonachickencooptoday,

Five months seems young for an Orp to begin laying, but chickens often surprise us

I would probably break open the first couple of eggs to see if they're fertile. If not, I wouldn't incubate any of the first ones. I'd wait maybe another month (just my opinion), break open another of her eggs, and then see if they are being fertilized. If they are, you can store them (over the same week, if possible). You'll want to "store" the eggs until you get enough to incubate (according to what size incubator you have and how many possible chicks you want. I have a Brinsea Mini Advance that holds 7 eggs, and a Little Giant that holds 40+. Store them in a clean egg carton at 50-60 degrees and turn them 3-4 times a day so the yolk doesn't stick to the sides of the shell. If the egg is fertile, it won't begin growing until it's put in the incubator.

Hope this helps!

Connie

 

[wonachickencooptoday]

Hi wonachickencooptoday,

Five months seems young for an Orp to begin laying, but chickens often surprise us

I would probably break open the first couple of eggs to see if they're fertile. If not, I wouldn't incubate any of the first ones. I'd wait maybe another month (just my opinion), break open another of her eggs, and then see if they are being fertilized. If they are, you can store them (over the same week, if possible). You'll want to "store" the eggs until you get enough to incubate (according to what size incubator you have and how many possible chicks you want. I have a Brinsea Mini Advance that holds 7 eggs, and a Little Giant that holds 40+. Store them in a clean egg carton at 50-60 degrees and turn them 3-4 times a day so the yolk doesn't stick to the sides of the shell. If the egg is fertile, it won't begin growing until it's put in the incubator.

Hope this helps!

Connie

Thank you Connie,
I got so excited I got the first tiny egg from my Lavender, I stuck it under a broodie. Very good advice you give. Finally got a rooster after 4 years, so want as many lavenders as I can get ( and sell)!! Will try and hold off a bit now.

 

[SassysMom]

Thank you Connie,
I got so excited I got the first tiny egg from my Lavender, I stuck it under a broodie. Very good advice you give. Finally got a rooster after 4 years, so want as many lavenders as I can get ( and sell)!! Will try and hold off a bit now.

I know how egg-citing it can be

Best of luck and enjoy your adventure!

Connie

 

[farmraised86]

My week old blue andalusian x lavender orp! I'm hoping to keep the lavender orp color with the heavier andalusian lacing the sibling is darker blue like the andalusian