Hatching eggs
Ayam Cemani, Silkie and Millefleur Pekin chicks hatched 2015.
I sell and post eggs all over the UK. These eggs are carefully selected, taking into account size, shape and shell quality. Eggs posted are no older than 1 week and are checked and washed carefully with egg wash, air dried and carefully packed in polystyrene egg boxes, then bubble wrapped before posting. The trick being to pack eggs as tight as you dare! All breed pens are checked regularly for fertility.
Many people buy eggs that have been through the postal system and if fresh eggs are sent and are fertile than you should have good results. However the most common problem with posted eggs is the air sac gets damaged during transit. Fresher eggs are more able to withstand the knocks and bumps, but resting the eggs in a cool room pointy end down for 24 hours before incubating can also help repair dislodged air sacs. Best results are obtained by incubating pointy end down for the first 10 days, after this the air sac 'sets' and so from then on develops normally. Having eggs sent by special delivery is recommended as these do not go into sacks with other parcels.
It is also important to check your incubator regulary, cleaning with an incubator disinfectant between hatches and hoovering fans. Digital incubators may not be working to the temperature and humidity shown and so a digital thermometer and hydrometer should be placed inside the incubator to check temperatures. Do not place your incubator where temperatures fluctuate. Candle eggs after 7 days and throw out any not developing. Recheck around day 14. Don't push up the humidity too high in the last few days, the first chick out will be enough to raise humidity. If membranes are dry than add a wet sponge. Chicks start by making a small hole in the shell and usually take until the next day to hatch. Ducklings may take longer. Do not hatch duck and chicken eggs together as duck eggs give off a gas which can affect hatch rates of other eggs. If incubating duck eggs i suggest spraying lightly with water every five days, then leave alone for the last four/five days to hatch. Again, if membranes appear dry add a wet sponge.
I have a Brinsea octagon and a RCOM 20 at home. Chickens take 21 days and ducks and turkeys 28 days to hatch. Although you can still have healthy chicks hatch later for a reason they only know!
My chicks are then moved on under electric hens, which i love and so do the chicks. These i cover in sticky back plastic as chicks have a habit of sitting on top of the electric hen after a week or so and they get very messy. They are raised initially on chick crumbs with porridge oats, i find the oats encourage them to eat, even the fussiest of chicks! My son likes to dip his fingers in water then in the food for the chicks to peck off!
A silver laced wynadotte bantam taking a nap!
Happy Hatching!