New To Hatching

[ChickenLady 265]

Hi! I am completely new to hatching eggs. We have red sex-links now, and a Leghorn rooster, and I am going to try and hatch some of the eggs. We have a broody, and I put the eggs under her today, and she seemed glad to have them. I have done lots of research, and will candle the eggs tomorrow. Is there anything in particular I should know? Things to watch out for? Should I candle the eggs every day, or is this to often? And another thing, if one of the chicks dies in the egg, how can I tell? I am going to put the date on the eggs later today. Since the chicks will be sex-link/Lehorn crosses, is there any telling whether the hen's eggs will be brown or white? I plan on hatching 4 or 5, maybe 6 chicks, depending on whether they are all fertilized when I check. Will I be able to tell for sure if they are fertile on the second day, or will I have to wait longer? Any experiences, advice, or warning is welcome. Thanks! Sorry for all the questions, I'm soooo excited!

 

[WalnutHill]

Don't bother candling the eggs for a week or so after you set them. Candling them often won't hurt the eggs, but may annoy the hen and cause her to abandon them. If she is doing well setting on them, you may not want to disturb her at all, or sneak in and candle a couple when she is off the nest, or at night when it's dark in the coop.

Be sure her nest is in a cozy nook away from the other hens and rooster so that no one sneaks in and breaks the eggs.

The eggs will be brown or cream.

 

[ChickenLady 265]

Cool! Thanks!

 

[ChickenLady 265]

I checked on her this morning, and 4 of the eggs (there were 5 under her) were rolled out of the nest onto the floor. There was also a duck egg under her, so I figure that one of the ducks ran her off so they could lay there. BUT, the the ducks haven't been laying there for months. Could the hen have rolled the duck egg out of the other nests and under her? I went ahead and stuck the 4 sex link eggs back under her. Could she have figured out they were unfertilized this early?

 

[sumatra lover]

When our one hen went broody, we left her be and didn't bother the eggs. If one of the chicks pass away inside the egg, somehow they know and she will roll it aside and remain sitting on the rest of the eggs. Good luck!

 

[ChickenLady 265]

Ok, thanks. When the chicks start hatching, is there anything I should do? I know not help them out of the shell or let the other chickens eat the old shells, but are there any other important dos and don'ts?

 

[WalnutHill]

Don't bug mom unless she starts to injure the chicks, and be sure that the other chickens and ducks are out of the way at hatch time.

 

[ChickenLady 265]

Ok. Is there much chance they will start hatching during the night?

 

[sumatra lover]

They usually hatch whenever. I had one when I first woke up hatch and then one came later in the day it usually just depends.

 

[ChickenLady 265]

This morning I went out and she had rolled 2 of the eggs out from under her. I'm just assuming mother knows best and didn't put them back under her.

I stuck 2 new eggs layed today in the nest to replace the other ones. Should I bring her food in the nest, or let her get up and eat to stretch her legs?