When are eggs safe to incubate/stops being a 'pullet/new' egg?

[RosemaryDuck]

Hey all. Kind of a strange question, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

Raspberry (Pekin duck) has been laying for almost 2 months now. I'd like to incubate some of her eggs, but I'm curious when the eggs stop being 'new' or 'pullet' (not sure of the term for newly laying ducks) eggs.

Is it safe to incubate her latest eggs? Should I wait a while longer? Thanks in advance all!

 

[Yardmom]

If the eggs are being consistent in size you could give it a try.

 

[RosemaryDuck]

Bumping my own thread just to see if anyone else has any other advice as well. Thanks all!

 

[Mick Boon]

If you want more advise leave the eggs with her so she can incubate them herself... If she does not go broody then do it artificially.

 

[The Moonshiner]

You can try now.
I believe the biggest reason most don't is because of their smaller size.
Most don't want to hatch smaller chicks because the smaller size may make them struggle for the first several weeks.
I set pullet eggs at times. Ya a lot don't hatch and ya some hatch smaller and ya some fail to thrive but some hatch and do fine.

 

[Tclloyd0812]

It should be fine to start incubating her eggs! I'd collect a few for about 7-10 days and go ahead and put them in! I've personally hatched pullet eggs before and never had an issue in development or size. Good luck!

 

[Mick Boon]

I can't understand why any hobbyist poultry keeper would want to incubate artificially.

 

[RosemaryDuck]

I can't understand why any hobbyist poultry keeper would want to incubate artificially.

Some people don't have birds that go broody.
Some people just like to incubate with a machine.

I've been incubating artificially for years with no issues. Don't be so quick to judge.

 

[Mick Boon]

Some people don't have birds that go broody.
Some people just like to incubate with a machine.

I've been incubating artificially for years with no issues. Don't be so quick to judge.

It's because of people such as yourself who like to incubate with a machine that many birds do not go broody. You have ruined them by destroying their natural abilities. It's so sad.

 

[Huntmaster]

It's because of people such as yourself who like to incubate with a machine that many birds do not go broody. You have ruined them by destroying their natural abilities. It's so sad.

Not letting them go broody is not destroying natural abilities. It's been bred out of most birds to either grow faster for meat birds, or to lay longer and more as not to waist time brooding. All varieties are different. Has nothing to do with incubating or keeping them from going broody. Keeping a hen from going broody has nothing to do with natural abilities that can only be bred out of them.