[Chookiechook]

Sorry for the long, but rather comprehensive title

My little lavender pekin is laying, and daughter is desperate to hatch some babies.. but the eggs are rather small and not sure it is right to hatch them.

Also little black silkie bantams..... not sure how big their eggs should be before being successful

[lisa80]

I think you will always get stronger chicks if you hatch from when they are in their second laying year  :)if the eggs are very small then your chicks may be under size for the breed.If your just hatching for yourself and your going to keep them then i would have a go just to check fertility 

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Chookie, like Lisa said they say second year hatching is best, but as my pure breed girls are laying for the first time now, I've filled my incubator up with eggs and am testigng to see who is fertile etc.

Looking forward to my first hatchings next Tuesday, but not sure what I will get!!   

[Chookiechook]

Second laying year???     flippin heck, how do I break that to the kid   Not sure who is the bigger kid

I have hatched eggs from my tiny little gold silkie bantam... the first of her chicks are now in my shed.. she started to lay in November   Chicks look fine against their cagemates who are from second year hens!!

I have only just worked out that Lemons chicks are first year chicks

Oh well, I may just stick them in and see what, if anything, happens

Will it be cruel to the chicks if the eggs are small???

[lisa80]

no it wouldnt be cruel  :)they just are not good chicks to then breed from as it lowers the standard size for the breed if you see what i mean.large fowl will then get smaller and smaller (not sure ive explained that properly )let us know how you get on