New to hatching eggs

[Ilovechickens2525]

Hello! I have never hatched eggs before but am thinking of ordering hatching eggs in the spring. Tell me everything I need to know! Lol

I may be able to borrow an incubator, is that reasonable to do? After they hatch I need to figure where to keep them. I do have a cat who is somewhat trustworthy but also she’s a cat so I wouldn’t trust her on the loose around them!

What all do I need after the incubator stage?

I also am having fun deciding what I would like to order! The hatchery has so many interesting heritage breeds. In your experience how many eggs do you need to be safe to get a hen or two out of the mix. I know I’ll get some roosters and have made peace with that but if I get a few different breeds I’d like a hen or two in the mix in each breed ideally.

 

[FunClucks]

Check out the Articles section of this site, there's a lot of information in the Learning Center to answer your questions. As far as the sex of the eggs goes, it's anyone's guess. There's no guarantee on sex with eggs. Before you hatch, make sure you have a plan for the roosters, because you could hatch out all roosters. Keep, eat, or rehome, but make sure you've got a workable plan before you hatch those eggs.

Also, if a baby comes out with a severe deformity, are you prepared to dispatch it so it won't suffer? Hatching brings life into the world, and that's a big responsibility. There are defects that you can help and possibly fix, things the chicks can live with, but there are also things that you can't help or fix. If you're going to hatch, that's something you should prepare for. Hopefully you don't have that scenario, but it could happen. I had to dispatch a chick right after it hatched once because half of its insides didn't make it inside its body. A quick end was better than a slow painful starvation and necrosis. I cried the whole time. I didn't make the problem, and I couldn't fix it, but I could stop the chick from suffering, so I did that. And then I enjoyed the heck out of the rest of my 21 healthy chicks, 15 of which turned out to be roosters whom I rehomed at 3 months old.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

Check out the Articles section of this site, there's a lot of information in the Learning Center to answer your questions. As far as the sex of the eggs goes, it's anyone's guess. There's no guarantee on sex with eggs. Before you hatch, make sure you have a plan for the roosters, because you could hatch out all roosters. Keep, eat, or rehome, but make sure you've got a workable plan before you hatch those eggs.

Also, if a baby comes out with a severe deformity, are you prepared to dispatch it so it won't suffer? Hatching brings life into the world, and that's a big responsibility. There are defects that you can help and possibly fix, things the chicks can live with, but there are also things that you can't help or fix. If you're going to hatch, that's something you should prepare for. Hopefully you don't have that scenario, but it could happen. I had to dispatch a chick right after it hatched once because half of its insides didn't make it inside its body. A quick end was better than a slow painful starvation and necrosis. I cried the whole time. I didn't make the problem, and I couldn't fix it, but I could stop the chick from suffering, so I did that. And then I enjoyed the heck out of the rest of my 21 healthy chicks, 15 of which turned out to be roosters whom I rehomed at 3 months old.

I’m so sorry that you have had to deal with that, that is so hard. Yes, I am prepared for chickens with health issues. Part of why I want to hatch is I lost my one and only cream legbar after nursing her for a long time so I have cared for chicks with health issues in the past! I am just new to hatching eggs, not chickens.

I do have a plan for roosters! Just hoping to also get some hens out of this so wondering how many to order lol! I’ve not had any trouble in the past giving away roosters. 15 out of 21 is a lot of roosters though

 

[GodLovesU]

You can totally borrow a friends incubator!Hatching temp is 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit.How many eggs you order depends on how many chickens you want.However many chickens you want I would order 3 times that many eggs,due to shipped eggs have lower hatch rates and about half of them will be roosters.Do you have a coop ready for them?If so how big is it?Do you want standard chickens or bantams?Bantams are better for less space but standards are better for egg production.Some of my personal favorite breeds are Barred Rocks,Ameraucanas,Mille Fleur D’uccles(bantams),Buff Orpingtons,and Welsummers.I have kept chicks in storage tubs but after they are a few weeks old that gets to be kind of annoying.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

You can totally borrow a friends incubator!Hatching temp is 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit.How many eggs you order depends on how many chickens you want.However many chickens you want I would order 3 times that many eggs,due to shipped eggs have lower hatch rates and about half of them will be roosters.Do you have a coop ready for them?If so how big is it?Do you want standard chickens or bantams?Bantams are better for less space but standards are better for egg production.Some of my personal favorite breeds are Barred Rocks,Ameraucanas,Mille Fleur D’uccles(bantams),Buff Orpingtons,and Welsummers.I have kept chicks in storage tubs but after they are a few weeks old that gets to be kind of annoying.

Thank you so much for your reply! Very helpful information, mine would be coming from just over two hours away so I’m hoping in that shorter transport things go ok lol!

I do have a coop, I already have chickens! It’s 8x10 and I only have 9 chickens so have space for more. I have copper marans and silverudds and a few mixes. D’uccles look lovely but this hatchery does not have them, they do have buff orpingtons! I’ve heard great things. I am planning to get legbars as I lost the one I had and loved her. I was also considering Swedish flower hens, mosaics, Hmong and maybe another marans or two. I do only want one or two more marans as I have a few already but one of my marans is definitely not a pure marans as she lays olive eggs!

 

[GodLovesU]

Thank you so much for your reply! Very helpful information, mine would be coming from just over two hours away so I’m hoping in that shorter transport things go ok lol!

I do have a coop, I already have chickens! It’s 8x10 and I only have 9 chickens so have space for more. I have copper marans and silverudds and a few mixes. D’uccles look lovely but this hatchery does not have them, they do have buff orpingtons! I’ve heard great things. I am planning to get legbars as I lost the one I had and loved her. I was also considering Swedish flower hens, mosaics, Hmong and maybe another marans or two. I do only want one or two more marans as I have a few already but one of my marans is definitely not a pure marans as she lays olive eggs!

Swedish Flower are gorgeous!

 

[Sparky74]

I know you’ve asked about hatching but I’m going to address the next step, brooding.

My top tip is to not brood them in the house! Chicks produce an incredible amount of dander/fine dust that gets EVERYWHERE. I live in a mild climate so set up my predator-proof brooder on the veranda. If it’s cool where you live maybe you have a barn or a shed or even a garage.

Make sure you have your brooder ready before they hatch. Yes, chicks can survive for a day or two in the incubator but it’s better to be prepared. Don’t feed them layer feed, it has too much calcium. I buy "chick starter".

And don’t forget water!

Consider if you’re going to use a heat lamp or if you will do what I do and brood without extra heat, using a wool hen. (The mild climate here helps.)

You’re not new to keeping chickens and already have a coop so you’re already streets ahead of some newbies. Integrating the new birds into your existing flock is another topic.

Planning for the inevitable cockerels has been addressed. I can’t have a rooster where I live so line up someone to take them before I even set a clutch in the incubator.

It sounds like you’re in the Northern Hemisphere so you have plenty of time to research and plan. There’s HEAPS of information on this site. Read the articles, ask questions on the forums, and go for it.

Hatching and raising chicks is such fun!

 

[Debbie292d]

I've had 6 orders of hatching eggs shipped in, and 4 orders of hatching eggs shipped out this year. USPS has been incredibly slow and rough with them compared to years prior. If you hatch half the eggs, I'd be happy, whereas before, 70% was normal.

When you get them, set them pointy side down in an egg carton in a cool place (not the fridge) for 24 hours. Have the incubator already running 99.5F and 35-45% humidity.

Hopefully, you have an incubator that turns/rotates them.

Candle at 7 days, and take out those that aren't developing. You'll see veins and a dot. If nothing, you can chuck them. If you question any, put an X or something in pencil on them, and check them closely in a week.

Candle at 12-14 days (I do not do this anymore). Check any you had X's on. You may see them moving around in there. You should see an air cell on the big end and lots of veins and a blob. If you aren't seeing veins or very clearly, but there's a red ring, that one died. Look on YouTube for videos of x-day incubated eggs if you aren't sure of any. Again, mark those you're not sure of and check again next time.

Candle at 18 days. They should almost fill the egg but for the air cell. You may see movement unless they're sleeping or too scrunched to move. This is LOCKDOWN now. Shut off the auto turner. Pull the racks and lay down rubber shelf liner. Set the eggs on their sides on it (prevents splayed legs). Raise the humidity to 70% and do not open the incubator anymore until they're all hatched. (That's the best case scenario.)

Brooder: 95F for the first few days, then lower 5 degrees per week, or more if they allow it.

We use horse bedding pellets in ours so no dust, no smell.

Good luck!

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

I know you’ve asked about hatching but I’m going to address the next step, brooding.

My top tip is to not brood them in the house! Chicks produce an incredible amount of dander/fine dust that gets EVERYWHERE. I live in a mild climate so set up my predator-proof brooder on the veranda. If it’s cool where you live maybe you have a barn or a shed or even a garage.

Make sure you have your brooder ready before they hatch. Yes, chicks can survive for a day or two in the incubator but it’s better to be prepared. Don’t feed them layer feed, it has too much calcium. I buy "chick starter".

And don’t forget water!

Consider if you’re going to use a heat lamp or if you will do what I do and brood without extra heat, using a wool hen. (The mild climate here helps.)

You’re not new to keeping chickens and already have a coop so you’re already streets ahead of some newbies. Integrating the new birds into your existing flock is another topic.

Planning for the inevitable cockerels has been addressed. I can’t have a rooster where I live so line up someone to take them before I even set a clutch in the incubator.

It sounds like you’re in the Northern Hemisphere so you have plenty of time to research and plan. There’s HEAPS of information on this site. Read the articles, ask questions on the forums, and go for it.

Hatching and raising chicks is such fun!

Thank you, that is all really helpful! I do definitely need the tips on brooding as well. Would it make sense to keep them inside for the first week or so when very very small and then move them out? I do have a heated garage that would work well. I got my first group of chickens when they were between 5-8 weeks of age and kept them in there.

I am in a climate that gets very cold so was planning to wait until closer to Spring, figuring it would be spring temperatures by the time they could move outside to join the group.

 

[FunClucks]

Thank you, that is all really helpful! I do definitely need the tips on brooding as well. Would it make sense to keep them inside for the first week or so when very very small and then move them out? I do have a heated garage that would work well. I got my first group of chickens when they were between 5-8 weeks of age and kept them in there.

I am in a climate that gets very cold so was planning to wait until closer to Spring, figuring it would be spring temperatures by the time they could move outside to join the group.

I'd start them in the garage if at all possible. They make MOUNTAINS of dander, and it is horrible for anyone who even thinks of having allergies, gets everywhere in the house and is very hard to clean. The Articles in the Learning Center also have great info on incubating and brooding, and good pictures, etc.