Is it too late to set eggs now?

[jessmorris]

I'd like to set some cuckoo or splash pekin eggs under one of my mille fleur bantams - is it too late in the year now, or still ok?

[shirlthegirl43]

I don't breed chooks but think it is still plenty early in the year for chicks.

[Bramble-Poultry]

jess, we set eggs at pretty much anytime. the eggs will take around 21 days (maybe 20 for some bantams) and then you will need heat on them for around 6 weeks. This means that they will be hardy enough to go outside around mid august if reared indoors. Dont expect them to lay now though, more likely first in the spring. If rearing under a broody, i had a turkey start sitting on eggs in september last year (they take 28 days to hatch) and she nurtured the babies all through the winter.

If you are ready to try hatching - go for it, just be mindful that around 50% of what you hatch will be cockerels and you need a robust plan for dealing with them

[Nicos]

I've suddenly got 4 broodies today- out of 7 gals!!
Think I'll go find some fertile eggs from other breeds!

Plenty of time jessmorris

[jessmorris]

Thankyou both for encouraging words. I'll make sure that Edie really is keen then ebay here I come! Good point about the cockerels though - a friend is taking my two marans boys for coq au vin, another friend the lemon pooter cockerel to lead her mixed bantie flock, which still leaves me with one handsome lemon mille fleur sablepoot cockerel.........................the bigger birds aren't so hard to imagine as dinner, but its more difficult with a tiny cute bantie.....................I'll be raising the eggs under a hen so presumably she'll keep them warm/cool?

[RichmondHens]

As others have said it is definitely not too late. I have hatches going on as late as September. The hen will keep them at the correct temperature, don't worry.