If you are ready for a true farming experience then hatching chickens from fertile eggs is an experience you don't want to miss. Even if you live in a place where you can't raise chickens you might be able to hatch a few, enjoy them a short while, and then give them away or sell them at a local auction or swap meet.
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How To Hatch Chicken Eggs
You may have guessed it already, but not all chicken eggs will hatch. They must be fertile which means there must be a rooster in the flock. In our chicken flocks the hens lay eggs no matter if there is a rooster around, and some hens even get “broodie”, trying to hatch a clutch of eggs when they are not fertile. You can't simply go to the store and buy eggs expecting them to hatch.
If you have your own flock complete with at least one rooster, then there's a good chance you'll have some fertile eggs. If this is the case and one of your hens starts setting on eggs, you can move more eggs under her from other hens that aren't interested in starting a family. Just slip them in there, she'll cluck a little, then go right on brooding them.
If you don't have a flock with fertile eggs and want to hatch chicks, then you'll have to buy fertile eggs. Some folks may have a chicken grower nearby that can supply fertile eggs, but most will just want to order them. A quick search on the Internet will yield a number of suppliers in your area.
A good supplier will ship your eggs so that they arrive in a day or two after being shipped. This is really important because your eggs should be set ( start the incubating process) no later than a week of being laid. When you receive your shipment, let the eggs sit for 24 hours after arrival before placing them in the incubator. This will ensure the eggs’ contents settle.
The best way to successfully hatch your new eggs is by using an incubator. Incubators you buy today will keep the environment perfect for hatching, and some even turn the eggs for you as needed. Before you place the eggs in the incubator, make sure that it is plugged in and fully warm. Your incubator should have a thermometer on it and keep the temp around 99 and 99.5 degrees (in a forced-air incubator) or 101 and 102 degrees (in a still-air incubator). Humidity is important, too so try to keep the humidity somewhere around 45 and 50% for the first 18 days, then increase it to 65% for the final days of incubation.
What Kind Of Chickens Do You Want To Hatch?
You will find in the online store that there are a lot of choices of chickens to hatch.
Heavy Assorted Chicken Eggs produce birds to eat or keep for layers of large brown eggs. Typically you'll find breeds like Black Australorps, Lt. Brahmas, Dark Cornish, Black and White Giants, Buff and White Orpingtons, New Hampshire, Rhode Island Reds, Barred/White/Columbian/Partridge or Buff Rocks, Sussex, Turkens, White, Silver Laced, & Columbian Wyandottes.
White Leghorn Hatching Eggs hatch a solid chicken, for eating or laying. Years of scientific breeding research have gone into the development of this chicken through a blending of special strains of White Leghorns. Livability and resistance to disease are very high.
Bantam Chicken Hatching Eggs are usually an assortment of purebred bantams chicken eggs made up from several different varieties. It's fun to order this assortment because you'll be surprised by what you get. Bantams are smaller than other chicken breeds, but have a lot of color.
Feather Footed Fancy Assorted Chicken Hatching Eggs are fascinating large breeds which have feathered shanks and toes and very fluffy plumage giving a massive appearance. May include Buff, Partridge, Black, Blue, Silver Laced, White Cochins; Black and White Langshans; Buff, Dark, Light Brahmas; Salmon Faverolles.
Hatching Your Chicken Eggs
It takes approximately three weeks for chicken eggs to hatch, give or take a day, providing the eggs are fertile. Not all eggs are fertile, so you should determine which eggs are likely to hatch and which eggs are not. Infertile eggs contain small grey and white dots on the yolk, but fertile eggs have a dark circle surrounding the dot. You can see this by “candling” the eggs, or holding them up to a light so you can see the inside.
Raising Your Chicks
At this stage your chicks will make a terrible mess in their box. Change litter often and be sure they don't run out of water. I like to use medicated mix in their water and feed them chick starter with medication. Several times using this method we have raised chicks and not lost any. The chicks grow fast and will require attention often. Put their box in a closet at night or you won't get much sleep. Add dirty litter to your compost pile.
Your Pet Hen
