Fertile eggs

[kentish girl]

I've just ordered 12 fertile chicken eggs & been offered loan of an incubator. I have very little idea of what to do !!!!

Hellp please

[RichmondHens]

Er, then why did you do it?

Get a copy of Katie Thear's Guide to Hatching and Rearing. All the info you need will be in there.
Good luck!
And remember, chickens are for life, not just Easter, or beyond. And don't forget, at least half of the hatch will be male, so make sure you have plans for what to do with the cocks. They will be crowing by 4 months old, if not sooner.

[its hilly]

First off sterilise the incubator.
Second, is it forced air (with a fan in) or still air (without) and does it have an automatic turner for the eggs or will you have to hand turn? Instructions vary according to those things. Hopefully the person who is lending you the inci will have the temp and humidity figures they find best for that make and model.
When you know that someone will be able to give you some more info. Figures do vary a bit from one inci to another. But you will still need to set it up and let it run for a couple of days so that you can make sure its running at the right temp etc before sticking eggs in.
Basics are.. 21 days from starting incubation to hatch. Eggs need to be turned 3 times a day until day 18, then stop turning. Once hatched the chicks need to be under a heat lamp of some sort in a brooder (dont worry they are easy to improvise) until fully feathered. Approx eight weeks. Then you will need to have a coop and run ready for them. If you have electricity where they will be kept you could always set up a brooder in the coop.
Read the sticky on incubation at the top of the roost. Theres info in there too.
And to second Richmond, decide what will happen to the 50% which will be boys BEFORE they hatch.
What breed are the eggs?

[petal]

good advice, its hilly! and remember that as half wil be boys you have to have a plan= go on course learn to pluck and dress and put in freezer! You must not hatch without this plan!

[kentish girl]

Thanks for the advice, the eggs are a mixed batch of Polish, Ko Shamo, Sebright and pekin apparently

[matthew2riches]

Thanks for the advice, the eggs are a mixed batch of Polish, Ko Shamo, Sebright and pekin apparently

Not really any good for eating then

[Snadger]

Thanks for the advice, the eggs are a mixed batch of Polish, Ko Shamo, Sebright and pekin apparently

The Ko Shamo is the bantam version of the Shamo methinks, Sebrights are bonny little birds Pekins aren't very big and Polish have a pom pom on there head!
Deffo not eating birds!

[petal]

which leaves you with another problem, i'm afraid. Quite often you can give bantam boys away for free, so don't worry.

[Scott Hightower]

If you are serious about raising chickens you can save a ton of dough by building your own chicken coop. One thing to remember is to make the nest the lowest point in the coop. Drop it about 2" (50mm) below the finish floor level.
Here are some plans:
Scott

[Nicos]

Sorry- not quite sure if you already have chooks or not- or if you've had them in the past?

Don't worry about the size/weight of the cockerels- mine are bantams and weigh 750g max when dressed. Nope- there isn't much meat but they are still sweet and delish- and the bones make a fantastic stock for soup or stock!