Rule of thumb regarding pullet age or egg size for Incubating eggs?

[runningtherace]

Hi all, we have some Jersey Giant pullets (with a rooster) who have been mating / newly laying for several weeks, but their eggs are still on the small side. We'd like to incubate some eggs and I'm wondering if we need to wait until they're bigger or if these will work (center 2 eggs in photo). Is there a rule of thumb regarding pullet age or egg size? These pullets are about 6 mos. old, but my understanding is that Jersey Giants are slower growers.

 

[Mvan42]

Normally most say wait until they are 2 ish I think it may be a year.. small eggs make small chicks..

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Is there a rule of thumb regarding pullet age or egg size?

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Generally waiting until they have laid for at least a couple of months will at least let the reproductive system work out it's kinks getting up and going.

Some breeds have a standard set for hatching eggs size. In Bielefelder (my current large fowl breed), the standard says eggs should be at least 60 grams before hatching.

Although it's true that smaller eggs equal smaller chicks... they still will have the SAME overall genetic potential regardless of hatch size. So if you aren't hatching meaties expected to reach full size in 8 weeks then it probably won't matter TOO much.

The only thing that egg photo tells me is you got lovely eggs. Are you able to weigh them?

In the beginning of my adventure, I did wait past one year old for breeding chickens... that proved WAY too time consuming compared to already working on something for a generation or two by that age.

Since you already have a "rooster" (presumable cockerel same age as ladies), then you can have one and that's fantastic. Do you already have a plan for all the boys that will hatch?

Happy hatching!

 

[runningtherace]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Generally waiting until they have laid for at least a couple of months will at least let the reproductive system work out it's kinks getting up and going.

Some breeds have a standard set for hatching eggs size. In Bielefelder (my current large fowl breed), the standard says eggs should be at least 60 grams before hatching.

Although it's true that smaller eggs equal smaller chicks... they still will have the SAME overall genetic potential regardless of hatch size. So if you aren't hatching meaties expected to reach full size in 8 weeks then it probably won't matter TOO much.

The only thing that egg photo tells me is you got lovely eggs. Are you able to weigh them?

In the beginning of my adventure, I did wait past one year old for breeding chickens... that proved WAY too time consuming compared to already working on something for a generation or two by that age.

Since you already have a "rooster" (presumable cockerel same age as ladies), then you can have one and that's fantastic. Do you already have a plan for all the boys that will hatch?

Happy hatching!

Thanks for your input! Looks like our eggs are at about 55 g. so we'll wait a bit. And yes, its a cockerel, same age

 

[runningtherace]

Thanks for your input! Looks like our eggs are at about 55 g. so we'll wait a bit. And yes, its a cockerel, same age

And once we get going ... we do have some neighbors as well as other 4H families interested in birds, so finding homes for the cockerels won't be a problem at first. Good heads up tho - it would be good to answer that question before we have to!