Frequently Asked Questions

No. No rooster is needed for a hen to lay eggs. If you do have a rooster the eggs maybe fertilized. The egg will not start to develop unless the hen starts being broody. 

Chickens love scraps! When they see me coming with my scrap bucket they come running like their tail feathers are on fire. 

My chickens favorite is stale bread, tortillas, most fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat. It is easier to tell you what they shouldn't eat. 

Chickens Can't Eat: 

Avocado Peels

Night Shades - Tomatoes

Raw Potatoes

Chocolate

Onion 

Garlic 

Citrus 

Uncooked Rice 

Uncooked Beans

Moldy Food

If you are unsure about whether a type of food is safe to feed your hens it is best to check first with your local farm supply or chicken expert. 

For the best chance of survival wait until the chicks are at least 6 weeks old. Chickens are flock animals and should be introduced in groups of 3 or more so they have a buddy in case one dies. Chicks use the sardine technique to avoid getting hurt by the bigger chickens. The sardine technique is they can scatter, and the bigger roosters or chickens don't know how to catch them. Last note on this is put small boxes with cuts so the babies can hide. 

1. Acquiring Fertilized Eggs: Ensure you have access to eggs that have been fertilized, typically available from hens that are kept with a rooster. Check your local chicken lovers. 
2. Incubator Selection: Identify an incubator that meets your requirements and position it in an area shielded from drafts and not exposed to direct sunlight.
3. Incubator Verification: Connect the incubator to power at least one week prior to when you intend to begin the incubation process to confirm consistent temperature control. I have had too many incubators that are great the first day and later they don't hold the correct temperature. You don't want to be stuck with half backed chicks with no incubator. 
4. Temperature and Humidity Control: Maintain the incubator’s temperature within the range of 99 to 102°F (37.2 to 38.9°C) and manage the humidity level according to your incubator’s specifications.
5. Egg Rotation: Rotate the eggs a minimum of three times daily to avoid the embryo adhering to the shell and to guarantee uniform temperature distribution. It is best to find an incubator that has an auto egg turner.
6. Final Incubation Stage: On the 18th day, stop rotating the eggs and elevate the humidity to set the stage for the hatching process. This is the lock down stage! Do not open the incubator until 2 days after the first chick hatches or all chicks have hatched. 
7. Emergence of Chicks: Expect the chicks to begin emerging from their shells around the 21st day. It is essential to allow them to hatch independently so they can fully absorb the remaining yolk and blood vessels. I know it will look like they need help. But if you try to help them you will most probably kill them in the process. 

These steps are designed to guide you through the incubation process, leading to the successful hatching of chicks. 🐥