New to this

[Connies Chicks]

This will be my first incubation.....how many eggs should I start with at the lower end? I have two barred rocks that lay an egg each for three days then they don't lay an egg then back to the three. I don't want the kids to be totally distraught if none make it. Thanks before hand for all the help

 

[gamebirdsonly]

Well it depends on how many chicks you might want? Maybe start with dozen and go from there. Good luck with what ever you decided.

 

[Connies Chicks]

Someone said at least start with six. Is that too few to start with for the first time.

 

[gabrielle1976]

I would do 10-12 becuase some may not hatch and out of the ones that hatch you could have 50% boys or something you never know. It is usually fairly simple to find new homes for a few chicks if you manage to hatch everything you want and have extras. What kind of icubator are you going to use.?

 

[heatherscreations1969]

Like others have said...it depends on how many you want.....I put 6 shipped eggs under a broody 3 wks ago....I got 1 chick...out of the other 5 eggs, 4 were bad and 1 died around 16 days of incubation.....and knowing the way my luck as gone, this 1 chick will turn out to be a Roo

So I would suggest you start with double the amount of eggs to the amount of chicks you would like to have

*hugs* Heather x

 

[Cats Cradle]

I agree... about a dozen seems good for your situation. Eggs are "best" when they are freshest. It sounds like you get about a dozen eggs in a weeks time. I have incubated eggs up to two weeks old with good hatch rates, but not quite as good as those under 10 days old.

There are many things you can do to increase your success rate. Here are just a few tips:
1. As you collect your eggs, store them in a cool place (50-60 degrees) and turn them a few times a day.
2. Before you set them run the incubator for a day or so to be sure the temps are stable.
3. When you go to set them candle each egg (a bright flashlight works well) and don't set any with hairline cracks.
4. If you have enough eggs to choose from try to pick average sized, normally shaped eggs.

I have kids myself, and the first time we incubated eggs I made sure to not promise more than I could deliver. I only told them we were going to "try" and made sure they knew we might not have a single chick hatch. I also was careful to warn them about the possibility of a chick starting to hatch and not making it out. I basically prepared them for the worst. We ended up with a decent hatch for beginners, and they were very excited for every chick that hatched. Becasue they were prepared, they didn't give a second thought to those eggs that didn't hatch.

Best of luck! And be sure to plan to do nothing more than sit and watch eggs hatch for a day or so!!! My kids couldn't take their eyes off of them and neither could I.