Picking eggs to hatch

[athenasnow]

Hi,

Looking for advice on picking which eggs to incubate. I've got two hens whose eggs I'd incubate based on color and temperament. The issue is one of the two didn't lay her first egg until she was almost a year old. If I incubate her eggs, will her potential daughters also be likely to be late bloomers? Unfortunately both these hens lay the same color so separating them will mean carefully watching my coop camera.

Thanks!

 

[muddy75]

Hi,

Looking for advice on picking which eggs to incubate. I've got two hens whose eggs I'd incubate based on color and temperament. The issue is one of the two didn't lay her first egg until she was almost a year old. If I incubate her eggs, will her potential daughters also be likely to be late bloomers? Unfortunately both these hens lay the same color so separating them will mean carefully watching my coop camera.

Thanks!

I would incubate both if fertile.....the delayed laying could have been more environmental than genetic.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there, hope you are enjoying BYC!

I think the answer is potentially yes.. I would be hesitant to incubate a "late bloomers' eggs.. especially that late.

Some folks have been known to use food dye or lip stick.. applied to the vent the night before.. I would say of the bird you DON'T want to hatch from in this instance.. in theory it is supposed to streak the egg with color identifying it for other uses.

Egg production can also be heavily influenced by the sire's input.. if he were a good laying breed.. then it might increase the productivity in his offspring over their dam..

So uhm the chicken math magician in me says.. incubate them all!!

ONLY if you have room and a plan for all the extra males that hatch.

 

[athenasnow]

I would incubate both if fertile.....the delayed laying could have been more environmental than genetic.

I got them both as chicks at the same time, so the environment was the same. The one who was a late bloomer is bottom of the pecking order though and my marans hen is notorious for picking on her. Could that affect her laying age? Said marans hen would be the "mother" since she's great at it. I just don't want to have her hatch her own eggs since she's such an asshole otherwise.

 

[muddy75]

I got them both as chicks at the same time, so the environment was the same. The one who was a late bloomer is bottom of the pecking order though and my marans hen is notorious for picking on her. Could that affect her laying age? Said marans hen would be the "mother" since she's great at it. I just don't want to have her hatch her own eggs since she's such an asshole otherwise.

Stress definitely effects laying and bottom hen could definitely be delayed for that reason.....I am big fan of “chicken math” even though I mainly have non-chickens now. So yeah as long as you have room and a plan to deal with extra males, I say go for it!!!! Much like @EggSighted4Life said!

 

[athenasnow]

Hi there, hope you are enjoying BYC!

I think the answer is potentially yes.. I would be hesitant to incubate a "late bloomers' eggs.. especially that late.

Some folks have been known to use food dye or lip stick.. applied to the vent the night before.. I would say of the bird you DON'T want to hatch from in this instance.. in theory it is supposed to streak the egg with color identifying it for other uses.

Egg production can also be heavily influenced by the sire's input.. if he were a good laying breed.. then it might increase the productivity in his offspring over their dam..

So uhm the chicken math magician in me says.. incubate them all!!

ONLY if you have room and a plan for all the extra males that hatch.

My roo is also an EE. Not from one of mine though, I bought fertile eggs last time I hatched and ended up with him. So aside from knowing he hatched out of a pale green egg, I don't know much about his genetics. Though he didn't crow until he was almost 6 months so could be his line are also late bloomers.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

ate bloomer is bottom of the pecking order though and my marans hen is notorious for picking on her. Could that affect her laying age? Said marans hen would be the "mother" since she's great at it. I just don't want to have her hatch her own eggs since she's such an asshole otherwise.

Attitude breeds forward from both parents.. and Stew Pidasso hens should not be bred from anymore than an aggressive rooster. BUT if one is a victim.. the other cannot be blamed for the outcome per say..

EE cross.. sire.. cruddy egg production outcome at best. IMO.. forget hatching.. eat those eggs and add in a couple sexed pullet chicks that will lay better from the feed store/hatchery.. in a breed of your choice.

No point hatching barnyard junk IF the point is production.. If it's just for fun, that's a whole other story!

The Marans hen will NOT be "said mother" unless she goes broody and adopts the chicks.. some will co-parent.. though it isn't extra common and also not generally recommended.. My hens beat up other hens chick.. my roosters generally protect chicks.. I haven't had the fortune (or misfortune) of having a rooster go broody.. my broody hens do attack people ONLY when broody AND also provoked.. but a rooster or cockerel attacking humans is SOON to freezer camp.

Noting I take my flock antics very personally.. and while I know it always rolls down hill with a little bit of pecking, intimidation, etc and is tolerated.. I draw the line at bullying.. and NO bully welcome in MY flock period.. They will be re homed with disclosure OR take a long hot soak with aromatic veggies on top the stove.. USUALLY (with good set up) larger flocks are a bit more well balanced with more souls to spread the love around on..

My suggestion to a friend.. unless you NEED or want the hatching experience desperately.. I would buy better genetic chicks.. and EVEN if I was letting a broody raise them.. I would tuck them under AT the right time.. Noting broody are not delightful flock members ever.. and rooster still call the hens to eat before the chicks. Meaning there are no perfect answers.. and I've probably helped you overthink it well enough now to make you own informed decision!

Must get more chicks, when ready!

 

[athenasnow]

Attitude breeds forward from both parents.. and Stew Pidasso hens should not be bred from anymore than an aggressive rooster. BUT if one is a victim.. the other cannot be blamed for the outcome per say..

EE cross.. sire.. cruddy egg production outcome at best. IMO.. forget hatching.. eat those eggs and add in a couple sexed pullet chicks that will lay better from the feed store/hatchery.. in a breed of your choice.

No point hatching barnyard junk IF the point is production.. If it's just for fun, that's a whole other story!

The Marans hen will NOT be "said mother" unless she goes broody and adopts the chicks.. some will co-parent.. though it isn't extra common and also not generally recommended.. My hens beat up other hens chick.. my roosters generally protect chicks.. I haven't had the fortune (or misfortune) of having a rooster go broody.. my broody hens do attack people ONLY when broody AND also provoked.. but a rooster or cockerel attacking humans is SOON to freezer camp.

Noting I take my flock antics very personally.. and while I know it always rolls down hill with a little bit of pecking, intimidation, etc and is tolerated.. I draw the line at bullying.. and NO bully welcome in MY flock period.. They will be re homed with disclosure OR take a long hot soak with aromatic veggies on top the stove.. USUALLY (with good set up) larger flocks are a bit more well balanced with more souls to spread the love around on..

My suggestion to a friend.. unless you NEED or want the hatching experience desperately.. I would buy better genetic chicks.. and EVEN if I was letting a broody raise them.. I would tuck them under AT the right time.. Noting broody are not delightful flock members ever.. and rooster still call the hens to eat before the chicks. Meaning there are no perfect answers.. and I've probably helped you overthink it well enough now to make you own informed decision!

Must get more chicks, when ready!

This is definitely pending if my hen goes broody, but she's been showing signs of it the past couple days. She's hatched out eggs that weren't hers before so I'm confident she'd do it again. Never tried having her adopt day old chicks though so no idea if she'd take them or not. I had such an easier time with integration when she did it that I'd prefer to introduce that way rather than setting up a brooder and introducing them when they're older.

More for fun to have chicks from my own flock than for production. Was mostly just thinking that with my options for eggs, I'd like to add more colorful layers. Also my roo mates these two hens the most so I figure they're the most likely to be fertilized.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I'm confident she'd do it again. Never tried having her adopt day old chicks though so no idea if she'd take them or not.

Done correctly.. including giving her enough time to sit and be ready to bring them out.. many of us have very successfully adopted "day old" chicks.. they're always at least 2 or 3 days old before reaching most feed stores.. One of mine held their chicks.. so 6 days old, was my absolute most pushing it.. but some broody's have proven far more flexible than the one's I've personally experienced. Agreed integration is easiest with a broody! Plus seeing them and their little families really make the heart swell.

Sounds like you've got this! Get some EE from the feed store to add color in your basket IF you're so inspired and have that option when she gets there this year. There's something special about them, even over true Ameraucana! They're sure to add some fun into your flock.. every day feels like Easter and brings me the excitement of being a child again.

For informational purposes.. I usually tuck adopted chicks.. feed store or incubator.. during the evening hours while it's dark to give them a chance to learn one another's voices etc before sunrise.. But if you do consider that route.. now you will have a chance to look into it and see what others are doing as well.

Happy spring chickens for everyone!