Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
You can find a hatchery locally or online. Many websites will let you shop for the breed of
chick you want, such as Murray McMurray Hatchery ( www.mcmurrayhatchery.com ), and
they will ship your eggs to you to start your cycle of breeding.
You will not be able to select the gender of your bird using this method. Instead, you must
wait until the chick is old enough to determine its sex. You also will want to purchase more
eggs than you actually need to increase your chances of getting both sexes in your batch. And,
not all eggs will endure the shipping process, so it will be beneficial to order extra so you are
not disappointed in the amount of chicks you hatch.
Eggs you receive through the mail will need some time to adjust to their new surroundings.
Even though the hatchery takes the utmost care in ensuring their safe delivery, eggs can get
twisted and need to be set straight. Place eggs, large side up, in a clean egg carton to allow air
bubbles to stabilize and move back to their proper place. Leave the eggs stabilized for at least
12 hours, large ends up. Do not wash the eggs, as you may wash away the protective coating
and expose it to disease and infection. You should start turning your eggs as soon as they are
delivered to you and you place them in your incubator. Eggs are usually sent Express Mail or
a comparable way. It is not necessary to turn the eggs during this rapid trip as they are gener-
ally in motion the whole way. There is minimal health risk involving the eggs at this time. The
primary health risk involving your eggs comes when there is a change of temperature and
cold eggs are placed in a warm incubator. If your eggs “sweat,” it can make the eggshell per-
meable, which can allow bacteria to enter the egg. Always make sure that you allow your
eggs to warm to room temperature gradually before placing them in the incubator.
Collecting and Storing Eggs
The fun part is when you can reap the rewards for all of your hard work. Each day you need to
go to the chicken coop and retrieve any eggs you do not plan on hatching. If you leave eggs in
the nest for too many days, the chickens may peck at them, or you may initiate broodiness in
one of your hens. Also, if you plan to consume the egg, you will want to wash it off and refri-
gerate it.
Go to your hen house and take a basket or bowl with you to carry your eggs. The hen most
likely will be out of the coop by now and about her daily business. Pick up the eggs and
gently place them in your basket or bowl. If you find broken eggs or dirty nesting boxes,
clean them out so they do not create a bigger mess or health problems later.
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