Chicken questions

[sirmissalot]

Hopefully its ok to post chicken questions here.

I currently have 3 hens and a rooster, road island reds. I wouldn't mind getting myself a couple more hens, and more than anything I would like to hatch a few for my sister and my nephew, I think it would be neat for him if they were chicks from uncle chads chickens. Anyways, I'm a newbie on the chicken owning thing. None of my hens sit on the eggs, so I'll have to get an incubator, planning on borrowing one since I know a few people that own them. Can someone fill me in on the basics? One of my buddies said you have to turn the eggs every day, and that it will take a few weeks to hatch them. I realize after they hatch I'll have to keep them separate from the other chickens, and have a heat lamp on them for a while. Anything I'm missing? I raised the chickens I have now from chicks so I think I can handle the rest, its just the hatching part I'm unfamiliar with.

Also, as the hens get older will they start sitting on the eggs or do I need a different breed or... maybe just a smarter hen to come along. None of them sit on their eggs at all they just plop them out and go on with their business.

[Becky]

I don't know the answer to all of it, but the brooding instinct has been bred out of many breeds of hens because most farmers just want to collect their daily eggs. Also, it could be too cold for the chick to even survive so they don't sit on it, or the rooster may not have actually fertilized any (the hens will still continue to lay eggs regardless of a rooster).

[sirmissalot]

Well I see the rooster bangin the heck out the hens so I don't think that's it, unless he's shooting blanks! I have read that many hens won't sit on eggs, but also know people who just let their chickens hatch their own? Maybe I need to mix up my breeds a little.

[Hawgdawg]

Gestation period is 31 days.(oops for ducks) The best way to hatch chicks is get a broody hen. The banty breeds are usually real good moms. Some hens will sit and some won't. Most of the crosses have had there mother instints bread out of them. But I have had hen ducks sit on my chicken eggs with success. That is funny when the are following the duck around!
  By having a natural hatch the Mom does all the work and you don't have to worry. A good site is Backyard Chickens. Like HWF for chicken people.

[bigdave]

Correction.....21 days for chickens.  In your incubator, you need to pay close attention to temp and humidity......it is a complex process to achieve with any level of success, but not impossible. You must pay close attention to the details.

2nd on backyard chickens website. Lots of good information there.

[lokidog]

Yep, 21 days.  Give two extra before you toss the eggs.  The best incubator to use is one with an automatic turner.  Be sure to place the eggs point down in the turner.  The eggs come off the turner, or quit manually turning them, three days before hatching (Day 18).  At this time you add water to all of the channels in the turner to increase humidity.  This resting period allows the chick to orient correctly w/in the shell so that it can pip its way out.  Be sure your incubator is 100 degrees.  You can save eggs for several days so you have more to put in the incubator.  Gently place the unwashed (you can dry wipe poop chunks off) eggs someplace that is as close to 55 degrees and 75% humidity for up to a week, less time is better.  Allow to warm to room temp before placing in preheated incubator.

We have silkie hens that get very broody but you can only fit a few full sized eggs under one of them.

There are really good info sites everywhere.  Mississippi State extension office has a better site than the WA one.

You can also buy fertilized eggs online or ebay if you want to try to get different varieties.  Don't forget though that half or more will likely be roosters so be prepared for what to do with them.   

[sirmissalot]

I saw that they sell the ones with automatic turners. Don't think anyone I know has one though and I'm not really wanting to spend over $100 on an incubator when the chicks are pretty cheap at the feed store! I guess we'll see what I can find. If I ever end up growing meat chickens the incubator would be money well spent, but for now I just want some more layers. Thanks everyone thats all good info. I'm trying to avoid the other chicken forums right now... don't want to get any more ideas! 

[boneaddict]

You honestly would do better unless interested in the hatching process, just buying chicks at Big R, or the co-op.  Not trying to discourage you by any means, but the best success is buying an incubator.  The basic of basics probably run about 30 bucks.  (thats 10-15 chicks at the feed store).   Then you have to deal with humidity, temp (electricity going out), turning the eggs and so forth.   It really is a fun process and if you are serious, let me know and I can help you.   Its a great kid project.   

[WSU]

I sent you a PM. 

For others, what breeds are good brooders?  I'd like to have some chicks hatched but don't want to deal with the incubator set up. 

[boneaddict]

Alot of breeds won't go broodie.  THey are your best layers for just that reason.  Rhode Islands happen to fall in this category.   Every once in awhile you can have one that will do it.  They do still have some natural instincts.   Cochins love to go broodie, as mentioned Silkies, and bantams.   I have several girls that go broody at the drop of a dime.  They drive me nuts sometimes.   

[boneaddict]

Cochins are your best best WSU for a full sized chicken to go broodie.   They are also wonderful parents.

[boneaddict]

The Sussex I raise also go broodie fairly readily.  They aren't as easy to come by as the cochins.

[WSU]

Cochins are your best best WSU for a full sized chicken to go broodie.   They are also wonderful parents.

Thanks for the info.  I'd like to get a brood or two every year, but mine don't get broody.  It would be nice to have the flock replace itself with minimal effort from me.

[sirmissalot]

You honestly would do better unless interested in the hatching process, just buying chicks at Big R, or the co-op.  Not trying to discourage you by any means, but the best success is buying an incubator.  The basic of basics probably run about 30 bucks.  (thats 10-15 chicks at the feed store).   Then you have to deal with humidity, temp (electricity going out), turning the eggs and so forth.   It really is a fun process and if you are serious, let me know and I can help you.   Its a great kid project.

Yeah I realize that, thats why I'm going to try to just borrow an incubator. For me even just having chickens is kind of a wash price wise, but hatching the eggs and raising the chicks would be cool for my nephew (and me a little). If it doesn't pan out I'll just trick him and place a store bought chick in an incubator  or box and let him think he hatched it. Eventually I'd like to be able to just hatch my own though, definitely sounds like a broody hen is the way to go for layers.

[Machias]

I miss my chickens almost as much as my mule and donkey.