Want chics and on time frame. Need advise

[rosco]

Between four chickens, we've just received two eggs. we've had these chickens away from the rooster for one week. The eggs will no longer be fertile/viable in less than two weeks. None of the hens are sitting on the eggs. They aren't sleeping in the boxes tonight, but on another roost. To best get live chics in this time frame, i have taken the cold eggs out of the box and put them in a lizard terrarium that we have. it is between 85-105 degrees, depending on area of terrarium. Is that ok or should i leave them in the box outside?

also, is it possible to stick store bought eggs in the nest to stimulate broodiness? i get the idea that broodiness can not be forced but it makes sense that a chicken wouldn't become broody until it has at least so many eggs to hatch.

Am new to this and any link you know of that will give good info on hatching would help.

Thanks!!
Rosco

 

[Paganbird]

The best thing to do if you want to hatch your chickens' eggs would be to buy or make an incubator.
The lizard terrarium isn't good enough. It's too warm to store the eggs, and temp fluctuates too much to hatch them.
Here is a hatching guide. It tells you how to store & hatch chicken eggs. Print it out so you have a copy to refer to.
http://gallus.tamu.edu/Extension publications/b6092.pdf
Good Luck.

 

[Mahonri]

I love that PDF file.

 

[skidog]

Stick and ad up on craigslist or post something at your local feed store. You might find someone with an incubator going that would be willing to hatch for you. I hatch in my area for people all the time. I charge $1 an egg and nothing for a dud if my bator is already going.

 

[mulia24]

to stimulate broodiness? perhaps better to test it using pingpong/tabletennis/golf ball/wooden egg, put some that fake eggs inside a place where you want her to sit/broody. if she become broody, change the fake with the real.

 

[rosco]

I'm looking for golf balls but looks like we might need to go to a store. Curious, could real eggs be used and not better stimulate broodiness?

Thanks for the reply!

-rosco