Breeding Chickens

Eggs may be examined for fertility after about 7 days. This can be done easily using a candling lamp, which shines through the egg to reveal it's contents. Infertile eggs will appear clear and can be rejected. Fertile eggs will have blood vessels and, depending on their development, a visible air sack inside. Read our guide to using a candling lamp.

Fertile eggs can be hatched either under a broody hen or bantam or in an incubator. This takes 21 days until the first egg hatches. During this time the hen turns the eggs. If an incubator is used, the eggs are turned manually (unless you have an automatic model) and sprayed daily with a fine mist of water – this owing to the dry atmosphere in the incubator unit. Never attempt to remove hatching chicks from their shells as a membrane on their backs attaches them to the shell and if you damage or break it they will almost certainly die.

Until all the chicks have hatched, there is no requirement for feed for the first day as the chicks have a built in body reserve. However, the chicks must have access to a very shallow dish of water (chicks can easily fall into water and drown). After day one, chick starter crumbs should be fed. Find out more about feeding.