She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[chicapee]

Yeah, but unattended hens turn on each other

Yes they do, I was quite shocked after witnessing that.

 

[frmboyinthecity]

I've set old eggs (> 1 month) stored at room temp...FAIL
I've set shipped eggs (about 50%)
I've set refrigerated eggs (about 40%)
I've set infertile eggs from dishonest sellers (0%)
I've temperature controlled and humidity controlled eggs
I've turned eggs and not turned eggs
I've kept eggs in the dark, and eggs in the light
I've set porous eggs (work best in cabinets), bumpy eggs (no issue), pullet eggs (tend to hatch early but need less humidity than old hen eggs), eggs of different size (hatch at different times), and eggs of different breed (bantam hatch earlier than LF).
I've set turkey eggs a week ahead of chicken eggs, and same day as chicken eggs for a staggered hatch.

Set the freshest, best quality eggs of the same size and you improve your odds of success, but eggs are designed to hatch so it's likely some will as long as they are fertile and not rotten.

I turn the cartons if I remember, but most of the time I forget. I like the bigger eggs, but I will set any as long as they aren't oblong. I haven't done supplements before laying, but I think I may start that this year. Maybe it will help offset some of the post hatch deaths

I have cartons on the counter and put something under one end,turning the carton 3 times a day, I set the largest, cleanest, normal shaped, best colour and pore less eggs that are collected in 7 days or fills the incubator whichever comes first.
Eta. No supplements so far.

Thanks for your responses. That's along the same lines as I was thinking, but wanted to double check. I'll start collecting for my first set of my own mix of Cornish cross around the first week of March, and was trying to decide if I should get them on some supplemental vitamins before hand. Sounds like they should be good.

 

[WalnutHill]

Quote: I'd be glad to take some of those eggs when you are ready to send them my way, ideally around the beginning of April if possible! Just let me know what you'd like in return, whether cash, chicken or turkey eggs.

 

[sjturner79]

That's no fun. If there are a bunch of hens running wild and a rooster worried about anything but the hens, the rooster may end up just ranting about Monsanto and mutant mosquitoes

Dan was doing that a while ago on silks thread.

 

[sjturner79]

I set month old fridges eggs and got a 75% hatch. The only real fails I be had is when I've had the incubator too hot (2 of my 6 hatches). Everything else I've done to the eggs still gives 50% or better hatch. I've not had many infertile though, might have something to do with the fact the lowest roo to hen ratio I've set eggs from was 5 hens per roo.

 

[sjturner79]

I set month old fridges eggs and got a 75% hatch. The only real fails I be had is when I've had the incubator too hot (2 of my 6 hatches). Everything else I've done to the eggs still gives 50% or better hatch. I've not had many infertile though, might have something to do with the fact the lowest roo to hen ratio I've set eggs from was 5 hens per roo.

By the way when the flock get to more Roos than hens, the hens tend to stop laying, until you remove at least have the Roos. 18 hens and 24 Roos didn't give many eggs.

 

[frmboyinthecity]

I'd be glad to take some of those eggs when you are ready to send them my way, ideally around the beginning of April if possible!  Just let me know what you'd like in return, whether cash, chicken or turkey eggs.

Sounds good. I'm going to build some trap nests in the next couple weeks so I'll hopefully have an idea of which breed hen the eggs come from. I'm not sure if I'll take turkey or chicken right now. I'd love turkeys, but the DW is not terribly thrilled at the idea.

 

[frmboyinthecity]

I set month old fridges eggs and got a 75% hatch. The only real fails I be had is when I've had the incubator too hot (2 of my 6 hatches). Everything else I've done to the eggs still gives 50% or better hatch. I've not had many infertile though, might have something to do with the fact the lowest roo to hen ratio I've set eggs from was 5 hens per roo.

That would be great to have that kind of hatching success.

 

[frmboyinthecity]

This is one of drak Cornish Roos. He's a solid boy, and seems about twice as wide as any of my dual purpose hens.

 

[WalnutHill]

Quote: But they are so sweet! And your Cornish is lovely!