When can I incubate?

[halo]

I am just dying to start incubating my own eggs from my own flock. Im just starting to get some pullet eggs, seems like I have 3 little girls that just started laying. At what point can I put some of them in the incubator? The eggs are pretty tiny right now, so Im sure now isnt a good time, but whats a good rule of thumb on this? Thanks.

 

[silkiechicken]

Hard to say since every bird matures a bit differently. I usually wait till I get "large" eggs if it is a standard. Or about 2 months into regular laying or so.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I would just collect a dozen or so and put them in right now.

Last year I had a 5 month old hen go broody and she hatched 3 chicks.

 

[ginasmarans]

I usually wait at least a month so her reproductive system can work the kinks out. Sometimes new layers will have eggs with blood or meat spots and that will keep them from hatching. It also allows plenty of time for fertilization.

 

[chickalator]

how old are they?

 

[halo]

They are right at 5 months old...pretty young.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

The eggs should be fine to incubate.

 

[BamaChicken]

I sent Cyn pullet eggs from Blue boy when they first started laying and she got Suede from them. The size of the egg did not make a diference in the size they grew into after hatch for me.

 

[halo]

Ah, Julie, you must have been reading my mind. Thats exactly what I was wondering, was if those little eggs would produce little chicks that would grow up to be little chickens. I guess Suede is living proof that is NOT the case!