[padster]

Hi everyone, we are new to poultry keeping, our friends have started keeping chickens and has incubated eggs (2 batches earlier in the summer) our daughter was really keen and friends said they would get us some fertile bartam eggs and loan us there incubator, but it has taken them a while to get these eggs, and have only just got them.  We are worried that it is too late in the year to start hatching young chicks, our friend reckons that it will be OK, can anyone help us, some has mentioned that because the days are getting shorter they might not get enough day-light hours and could get rickets.  WE are confused can anyone give us some advice??? 

[joyfull]

Sorry never hatched in an incubator (only under broodies) but hopefully one of the peeps on here who do use incubators may be able to help you 

[Happy Hens]

Hi,

I incubate eggs all year round, just as long as I have the eggs to put in.
Theres know reason why you can't do it. All what counts is that as it gets colder you use the heat lamp longer and where in the summer you put them out from about 3/4 weeks you can't do that in the winter. So you have to keep the haet on longer. They stay indoors longer as its cold but apart from that theres know reason I can think why you can not. As long as you have the space to keep them in.  If thats any help.   

Hi everyone, we are new to poultry keeping, our friends have started keeping chickens and has incubated eggs (2 batches earlier in the summer) our daughter was really keen and friends said they would get us some fertile bartam eggs and loan us there incubator, but it has taken them a while to get these eggs, and have only just got them.  We are worried that it is too late in the year to start hatching young chicks, our friend reckons that it will be OK, can anyone help us, some has mentioned that because the days are getting shorter they might not get enough day-light hours and could get rickets.  WE are confused can anyone give us some advice??? 

[Vember]

Have you already got hens?
I think if you've not then starting by hatching eggs is jumping in at the deep end especially at this time of year

I agree with the above that really there isn't a huge problem in doing so, but the birds will need to be kept indoors a lot longer It isn't just a case of popping the eggs in an incy and then putting them outside when they get bigger or if they start to make a mess

Another thing to consider is what you are going to do with the males that hatch? It is very difficult/ near impossible to re home the boys


I started off with pol birds and didn't start hatching my own until I'd had them a couple of years, it looks easy and sounds easy but I really think you should consider everything before going ahead and setting the eggs
Have a read at Katie Threars guide to incubation and rearing it's full of the ups and downs of hatching

My opinion get some adult birds and do the whole chick thing next spring maybe let a broody hen do the work for you it's far easier


Sarah

[hillfooter]

I'd agree with Vember.  There's no reason why you can't hatch now but you'll have young chicks to raise at the worst time of the year weatherwise and you don't seem to have got this thought through so I'd say do your homework first and if you still want to hatch some, time it so they hatch in late March or April so you can put them out at 4 - 5 weeeks when hopefully the worst weather is passed and you have prepared their housing etc.

Regards