Charlie7 Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 Hi everyone, I really need some advice. I'm going to hatch some eggs for the first time with my beautiful broody bantam Wyandotte Apple and I'm not sure how many fertilized eggs I should give her. I don't want many chicks, I was thinking two or three of them, not more, so I planned to put three eggs under her. But then when I went to collect them from a breeder, she told me that I should give Apple 10 eggs, to be sure that some will hatch. What do you think? Of course I want some to hatch, but I don't want 10 chickens running around. 2-3 chicks would be perfect. Any suggestions to how many eggs I should give her? Thanks! Sophie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dance in the dark Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 The problem is that from ten eggs you could hatch 10 chicks, or you could hatch 1, or even none. and if you had three eggs you could end up with three chicks, or none at all. Most breeders who sell fertile eggs in whatever amount you request (customer's always right and all that) but, although I have never had bantams, 10 seems like a lot for one little girl. The maximum you normally see recommended for bantams is about 8. I would think try six eggs, and then you should get the amount of chicks you want, and if the eggs are of a decent breed you could probably find homes for them with no problem if you had surplus.... Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 I do think that 3 eggs is too few but also think that the breeder's recommendation of 10 is too many! 7 or 5 is a nice number - odd numbers work better as they sit better under a broody Dont forget that some will be males and some may not hatch In the event of them all hatching then surplus females are easily sold on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie7 Posted May 10, 2012 Author Share Posted May 10, 2012 OK, thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
