How do I keep the chicken on the eggs to keep them very warM? My chickens only stay on for about 1 1/2 hours. I really want to raise my own chicks. Is it to early to start to hatch eggs from my chickens? Because of the weather? If not please explain how to make them stay on! Thanks,
Jess, Hens do not stay on the nest after they lay each egg. They continue to lay every day or every few days until they have layed what is called a clutch. So collect your eggs every day and save them in egg cartons. Write the date on each egg, each day. If you have a breed that are natural setters, one day, you will find the hen stayed on the nest overnight and stays on the next day all day. At this time, you can give her the last and freshest eggs, just a number she can cover well. If you have other hens that are laying, you will want to move her to a quiet place with food and water right by, so other hens will not be laying in her nest!!!! And mark on your calendar, 21 days, so you will know when to expect the hatch. There is no way to make a hen "set" or become broody, it is part of her natural cycle and will occur at the right time,naturally. So be patient--and assume you do have a rooster, so you could expect fertile eggs???? CJR
THank you soooo much this will help! And yes I do have a roo. I have no clue what kind he is. He looks like a orange old english game. Hes to big though to be one I think. I wonder if my chicks will be weird. I have a barred rock and also r.i.r's and sex links. They will be weird I bet. Can't wait! Oh and how do you know so much info about this chicken stuff? Just experience?????
Jessman, If you live long enough and feel that everything is important "in its own way", you collect and remember all sorts of information that most people find trivial--not worth noticing! And I enjoy chicken stuff. So I read, observe, enjoy! When you do hatch some eggs, your chicks will grow up, not to be weird, but beautiful "in their own way"! CJR
Say, Jess, looking back on the breeds of chickens you have--well, you may or may not have a setter in the flock????? This is because a number of breeds kept for egg production, no longer have the setting instinct. So while you may have a hen that will set (not likely the sex link-they were made just for laying eggs), it is possible that you will not! That may be disappointing. However, the hens of other breeds you listed, after laying lots of eggs, may surprise you by staying on the nest overnight, fluffing up the feathers and hunkering down in the nest--and you will have a SETTER! Years ago, I kept layers for my family, and when I finally wanted to hatch some "big birds", I got Speckled Sussex, because they are known to be setters--they were beautiful--kept one rooster long enough to raise a brood--Sussex will set for sure.! Good luck, patience, and I hope you have a setter! CJR
Thank you sooo much again! Your a great person. I'm glad your on this site. Today I bought 28 more chicks plus the 24 I already have that are about 3 weeks old. Everyone is doing great. Guess what! I found a chicken on the freeway! I finally caught after about 20 minutes with some help with my mom (I'm 15) and it is the oddest chicken I've ever seen. It looks like a mix between a old engilish, rosecomb, and rir color. It has a big back tail and is small and petite like the old english game. You have any clue what it is?? Hey CJR where doy ou live? I live in southwest MO. seeya later bud.
Jessman, Can you post a picture? (I have not been successful, but others do it all the time) Probably one of the "weird" crosses you mentioned getting with your birds.) I'm under the big snows of Montana! Real old fashioned blizzard 10 days ago, and another due tomorrow. This one was forecast, and you can believe I have a good supply of chicken feed, dog and cat food, kitty litter and bird seed! And am I ever glad I had my packs stiched up--hadn't needed them for several years! Had hoped to mail out some birds this week--will be another week, at least! CJR
Yeah you can post a picture here although I've tried also and don't know how. Sorry. I am ganna help you find out though.so what kind do you have exactly? Do you sell eggs or or anything or are they just for enjoyment? OH YEah! Do you have an aol account? If so I want yur screename so that I can talk to you more. I have barred rocks, one buff orp, black sex links, red sex links, assorted bantams(so cool!), rir's, aracaunas, anaconas, mille fluer, and also silver wyandottes. I sell my eggs around here and I have a Missouri egg license of course. I really want to send you a pic of my place. Well I'll find out how. In the mean time talk to u later bud. Seeya!
Jess
By Cjeanr on Saturday, March 16, 2002 - 03:32 am:
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