Nothing to lose, or waste of time?

Our september hens have started to lay. We have a GLW roo and hen, and today I collected an egg that is probably fertile. We're new to chickens and we are picking up a few more babies this weekend. The thought crossed my mind that I might not put this egg in the fridge this time.

Is there any point in giving it a try? If it doesn't make it, I don't mind... I think it would be an interesting new experience if we actually have a successful hatch- and it wouldn't be alone as we're buying some chicks.

Are there any suggestions on a quick and easy "incubator"?

 

Letting the hens hatch it should work (the coop is heated) but we really don't want to increase our numbers very much. I just broke my broody game hen's obscession with a golf ball a week ago or else I'd give it to her!

It would be a sight to see though!

 

I have to say that this is about the coolest thing I've ever seen or done. This single egg, sitting on a ceramic tea candle holder with a shadeless lamp inside a soft fabric cooler has made it to day 5. I can see the embryo's eye and have seen it moving in the shell. It's really amazing! The chick (if it makes it) will hatch with a tan. I can't stop candling it

As you can see, I'm as new to this as a person gets. Can anyone tell me if there are "critical periods" throughout the incubation, or is it as fragile at day 20 as it was at day 1? (in other words, can I expect the thing to die at any moment, or is the worst behind us?).

I had to share my excitement with this new experience. I can't quite believe it made it this far.

 

BTW the icon I'm using as my profile pic is the mom when she was a baby