There is only two ways you can hatch chicken eggs and that is the natural way, under a broody hen and the artificial way, in an incubator.
The natural way is hard to maintain mainly because you will have to have a broody hen who is laying the eggs you want to hatch and of course broody hens can be temperamental and if that happens then natural hatching will not take place.
Hatching in an incubator is far more successful but not all of your eggs will hatch and you will have about a 75% success rate.
There is no way initially of telling whether you have fertile eggs and it is only after a period of one week when you are able to candle them that you will be able to see if they are going to continue.
When buying hatching eggs always buy from reputable breeders, they are less likely to send you old eggs and will always send you them safely in and in the correct packaging.
If eggs are kept longer than ten days, it is unlikely they will hatch.
There are some places out there that will keep there eggs for longer than ten days and this is why it is important that you do your research and buy from a reputable breeder.
If you are planning on hatching your own eggs and have the incubator and are aware of what is involved, the most important thing is the care of your eggs.
Making sure you don't keep them after the recommended time scale and storing them in a cool dark place is important.
You must also turn your eggs every day which stops the yolk from becoming attached to the side of the shell.
Hatching and breeding your own chickens can be lucrative and a lot of fun and is relatively easy as long as you follow all of the guidelines and make sure that you also follow the instructions on your incubator manual.
Different eggs take different lengths if time to hatch.
Chicken eggs take 21 days whilst the bigger eggs such as turkeys will take long at 28 days.
The temperature and humidity will also have to be regulated and altered after a certain amount of days.
The natural way is hard to maintain mainly because you will have to have a broody hen who is laying the eggs you want to hatch and of course broody hens can be temperamental and if that happens then natural hatching will not take place.
Hatching in an incubator is far more successful but not all of your eggs will hatch and you will have about a 75% success rate.
There is no way initially of telling whether you have fertile eggs and it is only after a period of one week when you are able to candle them that you will be able to see if they are going to continue.
When buying hatching eggs always buy from reputable breeders, they are less likely to send you old eggs and will always send you them safely in and in the correct packaging.
If eggs are kept longer than ten days, it is unlikely they will hatch.
There are some places out there that will keep there eggs for longer than ten days and this is why it is important that you do your research and buy from a reputable breeder.
If you are planning on hatching your own eggs and have the incubator and are aware of what is involved, the most important thing is the care of your eggs.
Making sure you don't keep them after the recommended time scale and storing them in a cool dark place is important.
You must also turn your eggs every day which stops the yolk from becoming attached to the side of the shell.
Hatching and breeding your own chickens can be lucrative and a lot of fun and is relatively easy as long as you follow all of the guidelines and make sure that you also follow the instructions on your incubator manual.
Different eggs take different lengths if time to hatch.
Chicken eggs take 21 days whilst the bigger eggs such as turkeys will take long at 28 days.
The temperature and humidity will also have to be regulated and altered after a certain amount of days.
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