Why ?

[Arnie]

I have my incubator, I've ordered my fertile eggs of E-bay (12 Light Sussex) they will be here hopefully today perhaps tomorrow, The Poulrty book by Katie Thear will not be here until Saturday, I thought the hatching of your own Hens was supposed to be a happy feeling, At this moment it isn't. Why am I worried sick that it will all end in tears, Can someone tell me it's a doodle and theres nothing to worry about.

Kind Regards

Kevin

[alan refail]

Kevin

How I wish I could tell you how easy it is! Unfortunately, when dealing with living things, whether plants, animals or birds, there are so many things that can go wrong. The main thing is not to be disheartened by problems. I could tell you of my successes, but then I would go on and tell you about the disasters - but I won't.

I hope everything goes well for you on your first hatching run.

Remember, half the chicks will be cocks, so next year you should be breeding your own stock

Alan

[Chantal]

Kevin, I know how you feel. Everytime my chickens have been sitting on eggs I've spent the final 24 hours pacing up and down and worrying about them (unnecessarily )

Chicks, assuming they hatch OK are remarkably resiliant little things that are independent from the minute they leave the shell. You'll be amazed. Yes, things can go wrong but deal with each day as it comes 'cos it may just go perfectly.

[Diane]

Good luck with your eggs - and hopefully you will have a good hatch. I doubt that all the eggs will hatch as this quite often happens. Just think of this first attempt as the start of a learning curve and be prepared to lose a few - it happens to everyone as there are so many variables in incubator hatching.
Follow the instructions that came with the incubator - and just see what happens. If you have a bad hatch then ask for more info from folk on various poultry websites.

My advice would be - get a humidity meter for your incubator, as that is one of the most important things to watch. I don't add water to the incubator until I see that the eggs are actually pipping.(the eggs pip from day l8 onwards depending on whether you are hatching bantams or large fowl).
More chicks are lost in the egg due to too much water in the incubator at the start that they literally drown.
During the incubation time - 18 days I keep the humidity inside the incubator at 50% - ish and then when the eggs are pipping at l8-21 days then I add warm water until humidity is about 70% and then I leave the lid on the incubator until all the chicks are out and keep my fingers crossed. That is what works for me after many attempts ove the years and so that's what I stick to.

Of course - it's a lot easier with a broody hen

Let us know how you get on.

[Chantal]

Good grief, I had no idea it was so complicated

I just let my broody chicks get on with it

Good luck Kevin

[Arnie]

Thank you all for your encouragement

Alan as 50% of the chicks will be cockerels at what age do they start crowing, reason being Liverpool City Council do not allow any cockerels on any of there Allotment sites, So I am afraid its Cock-a-leekie soup for them Also am I right in thinking that if I wanted to start breeding my own stock, I would be better getting a Cockerel that is not related so to speak?

Chantal You are right I am worrying unnecessarily, but I hate it "the not knowing bit " and yes it does come across as rather complicated but with everyone's help I am sure it will be a success

Diane Thank you so much for this advice, The first time I read it I thought hells teeth I was worried about frying them and you tell me I might Drown the beggars Well I have re-read the user manual and your advice and I am feeling a little more confident (just a little not a lot)
As I am incubating Light Sussex Large Fowl Will it make a difference to the advice you have given I am I right that you do not put any water at all in the incubator at the start ? or do you try to maintain a 50% humidity from the start

I have to get this right as Tatty Head (Dear Wife) has told Nieces and Nephews that I am making chickens in a box in the kitchen So No Pressure Then

Thanks Again for all your help

Kevin

[Diane]

Hi - I don't add water at the start because generally in this country the natural humidity in the air is sufficient (especially at this time of the year when it seems to be pouring with rain. I have just hooked out my humidity meter from the bedroom drawer and it's reading 70% at the moment - so that's why you don't really need to put any water in at the start. However, I do advise you to get a humidity meter to go inside the incubator (there are very reliable, reasonable ones on www.hatchitincutators.com). It's one of the most important points in hatching.
Large fowl will take 21 days to hatch, depending on how fresh the eggs are. Fresh eggs will usually hatch dead on 21 days but slightly less fresh may take a couple of days more. I always leave the eggs a few days longer - just in case. Don't forget you can candle the eggs (shine a bright light through them, in a darkened room) when they are 10 days along incubating and then you'll see which eggs are infertile (clear) and which have developing embryos in them. Take out any clear eggs. If in doubt candle them again at 14 days just to check.

P.S. I always talk to my eggs in the incubator (yes! I know it sounds mad!!) but the chicks seem to respond when they are hatching and they'll recognise your voice straightaway. After all, that's what mum hens do. I hope I'm not the only one to do this
Don't forget, also, that the eggs will need turning 3 - 5 times a day up to day l8 - but if you have an automatic turner in your incubator then this will be taken care of.

Best of luck. btw what sort of incubator did you get?

[Chantal]

Kevin, can't answer much else but my boys have all started crowing at around 6-8 months, depends on the breed.

[alan refail]

Kevin

re crowing. We had one that started at nine/ten weeks - that's unusual. More likely at about 4/5 months. We are surrounded by about 20 houses and we have had no complaints about cocks crowing. Swn y cefn gwlad, we call it, the sound of the countryside. But I know that won't go down as an acceptable excuse in Liverpool. Fortunately one of our close friends and near neighbours is head of Gwynedd Council Environmental Health in Pwllheli, and he loves the sound in the early morning

[Arnie]

Hi Diane,
I have a Corti Semi-Automatic 25 egg incubator.
Thanks to everyone for the advice, tomorrow is the big day, In the manual it say's to turn the eggs twice a day but I think I will go with your advice and turn them as you say 3-5 times a day, which I think would be better As for talking to the eggs,The wife thinks I am nuts, so this will, If I am heard, just confirm it

Kind Regards

Kevin

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Kevin, don't forget if all fails theres still Tesco's 2 for £5.oo chickens.

[peter]

Trust OH to suggest resorting to Fowl Play.

[alan refail]

Kevin

Turn the eggs 3 times a day rather than twice. I gather it's important that the embryo does not stay on one side too long (i.e. over every night) - an odd number of turns avoids this. I'd love to know how often a brooy turns her eggs, but none of them has ever told me.

Alan

[Chantal]

I've watched my girls pushing eggs around with their beaks, but I've no idea how they keep count