best time to collect eggs for incubating in upstate NY

[prncssprplfrog]

This is my first winter with hens. Even though my girls just started laying in December, they're doing well. I want to hatch out a few eggs from each of my 5 girls this spring. I know that I can't start too early because we get consistently warmer weather much later here in upstate NY. I didn't get my chicks last year until June 9th, but could probably hatch my own earlier as I wouldn't have to worry about shipping.


Here's my question:
I know (common sense) that I don't want to use frozen eggs. How about just cold eggs? Anyone out there from the north country (upper US or North East) hatch their own eggs? Any tips?

MY first hatch will most likely be :
2-3 Cochin eggs,
3-4 unknown bantam eggs (probably my Bantam Buff Brahma, and or Wyandotte)
a few Sebright if she starts laying- she thing's she's a roo right now....

I have Buff Brahma roos- so I'm interested in seeing what the crosses will look like.

I am still not sure whether I want to mess with making my own incubator or just buy a Brinsea Mini advanced so that I don't have to worry so much about egg turning.
I have so much to learn.

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
you cany get anymore upstate NY than I am! I am on my 3rd hatch right now I have 2 brooders in house and 40+ eggs in bator-I would preferr to hatch all my own eggs and I think this year may be the final year I need to order eggs. If you have a spare room your all good to go! I am making a spare room next March to do all my incubating and raising until they can go into large heated coops that stay around 40 degrees-I have 50+ birds in the outside coops and they are spoiled rotten. ANything I can do to help you get under way give me a PM!

 

[TattooQ27]

Quote:
While I am not quite as upstate as Sonew, I am upstate as compared to NYC so I suppose I can answer this )

I collect my eggs every night around 7pm. I keep my ducks in the barn with the horses in their own 10x10 stall but in there they have a hutch of sorts which is where they lay their eggs. Since we don't want to have to collect more than once a day, we put 2 heat lamps in the hutch each with a 250 watt light bulb. The light keeps the eggs at about 55 degrees which seems to work well. Good luck!

 

[chicken stalker]

Wait we are supposed to turn off our incubators?

My incubator hasn't been off since New Years. I've had eggs shipped from Washington State and California a few times now and all during freezing conditions. If packaged right they will do fine....no frozen eggs yet

. I've been hatching my own also in sub zero temps. As long as they don't freeze and are fertile they should be fine.

 

[aveca]

Ive got 2 collected from the breeding hut on day 14 right now, the others are from a breeder. Try to get them as quick as you can...I had to throw out 5 of mine as not fertile , maybe the rooster was on a bit of winter vacation, but it can be done. the sooner you get them the better. A couple I grabbed were still warm out of the chickens , those are probably the ones that are doing well right now.

I even found a couple that were frozen and cracked at 8 AM so those got thrown out. doesnt take long in these conditions

Didnt know we had so many upstaters in here.we should have out own club,theres the buckeye thread and then theres the upstaters. Where abouts in upstate are you?

 

[Deanner03]

Quote:
you cany get anymore upstate NY than I am! I am on my 3rd hatch right now I have 2 brooders in house and 40+ eggs in bator-I would preferr to hatch all my own eggs and I think this year may be the final year I need to order eggs. If you have a spare room your all good to go! I am making a spare room next March to do all my incubating and raising until they can go into large heated coops that stay around 40 degrees-I have 50+ birds in the outside coops and they are spoiled rotten. ANything I can do to help you get under way give me a PM!

Can too!! I'm under 10 minutes from the Quebec Border. Aveca, are you from Waverly as in St. Regis Falls Waverly????

 

[prncssprplfrog]

Oh my eggs are DEFINITELY fertile. Every one that I've cracked open has been fertile. My poor girls are outnumbered- 5 girls/6 boys. I just haven't gotten up the nerve to make some of them into dinner yet. My 82 yr old grandmother said she'd do the deed for me.....

As soon as I make more space upstairs in our storage room, I'll set up an incubator. I want more hens and am thinking about getting some chocolate eggers. I'm surprised at how well my flock has done this winter. Even my bantams have wintered well- they are a bit spoiled- as they get treats & hot oatmeal frequently.


How much of a pita is it to turn your own eggs?


Oh BTW- I'm about 10 miles North of Cooperstown....Smack dab in the center of the state.

I agree- we should have our own club!

 

[chicken stalker]

Don't forget to drop a line on the NY chicken lovers thread. There are a bunch of upstaters there.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=231485

 

[aveca]

Quote:
you cany get anymore upstate NY than I am! I am on my 3rd hatch right now I have 2 brooders in house and 40+ eggs in bator-I would preferr to hatch all my own eggs and I think this year may be the final year I need to order eggs. If you have a spare room your all good to go! I am making a spare room next March to do all my incubating and raising until they can go into large heated coops that stay around 40 degrees-I have 50+ birds in the outside coops and they are spoiled rotten. ANything I can do to help you get under way give me a PM!

Can too!! I'm under 10 minutes from the Quebec Border. Aveca, are you from Waverly as in St. Regis Falls Waverly????

Hi there I WISHED I lived up your way!!!! Im right on the border of NY and Pa. waverly between Elmira and Binghamton Ny. I even got one of those canadian drivers licences so I could trillypat up your way. So nice to meet you. We tour around up there every so often. LOVE IT! Im the southern belle in this bunch. I can throw a stone and hit pennsylvannia.

 

[prncssprplfrog]

I'm thinking that it will be much easier to purchase my first incubator than to make one and be disappointed. Especially since I don't know that much about hatching eggs.

I was looking at the Brinsea mini advanced....since I only want to hatch 5-7 at a time, but I'm afraid it will be too small.
What are you all using besides hen-power?