Pullet fertility/hatching

[TattooedChicks]

So after a short stretch of panic today after I couldn’t find my 5 1/2 month old Japanese bantam I discovered her sitting on a secret stash of eggs. She had managed to wedged herself in a very small gap and had amassed a total of eight eggs. My birds are young and have only been laying around two weeks. I have a 5 and 6 month old cockerel, both have been actively mating.

What are the odds of fertility in these pullet eggs and should I let her try to brood them in a safer spot? I’ve already ousted her from the bad location. I would like chicks, but I have my doubts on their success at this stage.

 

[Tiana's chickens]

They might still be alright. Give it a go

 

[AlleysChicks]

You could let her sit them a few days and candle.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Are they a decent size? If they are, then let her set for a few days, before candling them. If they're not developing, kick her off the nest.

 

[TattooedChicks]

Are they a decent size? If they are, then let her set for a few days, before candling them. If they're not developing, kick her off the nest.

Here is the biggest with a quarter, I’ll try candling.

 

[lazy gardener]

Other things to consider: Do you have the room for a brood of chicks? Is your climate now suitable? Granted, broody hens are successful raising chicks in the winter, but that is not the best choice.

While pullet eggs can be fertile, and will hatch, those chicks start their lives with the "small egg" factor going against them. Up to a point, the larger the egg is, the more nutrition it has packed into it to get the chick off to a good start in life. Generally, it's recommended to wait until pullet eggs are a bit larger before trying to hatch them. However, if you have certain flock goals that would cause you to choose to "use it or loose it", then it would make sense to try to hatch a pullet egg in order to preserve those genetics in your flock.

When I have a hen go broody at a time that is not convenient for me, I simply break her broodiness.

 

[TattooedChicks]

Here is the biggest with a quarter, I’ll try candling.
View attachment 1208677

Candling just now shows no development and large air cells, as far as my inexperienced eyes can tell. Plus it’s been cold at night with her always being on the roost at bedtime, though I have no idea how long she’s been trying to hide these.

 

[TattooedChicks]

Other things to consider: Do you have the room for a brood of chicks? Is your climate now suitable? Granted, broody hens are successful raising chicks in the winter, but that is not the best choice.

While pullet eggs can be fertile, and will hatch, those chicks start their lives with the "small egg" factor going against them. Up to a point, the larger the egg is, the more nutrition it has packed into it to get the chick off to a good start in life. Generally, it's recommended to wait until pullet eggs are a bit larger before trying to hatch them. However, if you have certain flock goals that would cause you to choose to "use it or loose it", then it would make sense to try to hatch a pullet egg in order to preserve those genetics in your flock.

When I have a hen go broody at a time that is not convenient for me, I simply break her broodiness.

I think you have a good point, good weather in Kansas in December won’t last long. And these eggs are very small. Maybe I will dissuade her until the spring versus risking her health and the chicks this year.

 

[lazy gardener]

 

[jay873]

Im in a similar position like you i have a broody that's hatching mostly pullet eggs like literally her first ones and they are developing just like a normal eggs really pullet eggs are ok to hatch unless they are like misshapen and the mother will have no problem warming 8 chicks and once chicks are a few weeks old they won't need her as much they are tough little things and if size really affected hatching that much the bantams wouldn't be able to reproduce just my opinion I'll let you know my hatch results she is sitting on 14 and they are due next Thursday