If you decide you would like to try hatching your own chicken eggs, you can rest assured that it will be very rewarding. When buying an incubator be aware of how many eggs you are going to want to hatch. There are some really good priced incubators out there that will hatch just 8 eggs which is ideal for the beginner. Chicken eggs take about 21 days to hatch and you will have to make sure that you check the eggs and add any water to the incubator if needed. Eggs can take up to 6 to 8 hours to hatch and it is best to leave them alone whilst hatching, checking only from time to time. Remember also that even if the conditions are perfect within the incubator the best you can hope for is 85% hatch rate. You will also need to turn your hatching eggs regularly for the first 17 days, this ensures that the embryo does not become stuck to the shell, some incubators will rotate the eggs automatically and you will need to ensure you check whether your incubator does this or not.

Once a chicken has hatched it can stay in the incubator for up to 24 hours or until the chick is dry and standing. After this the chicks will need to be transferred to a small area where there is a heat lamp to maintain their body temperature, the temperature to begin with should be 95 degrees and there should be an area where the chicks can remove themselves from the heat lamp should they become too hot. The chicks will need the heat lamp for about six weeks and the temperature should be reduced every week by 5 degrees and then finally removed when the temperature around the chicks reaches the same temperature as the room they are in.

Remember chicks will normally live off their yolk sac for three days but it is good practice to provide food and water immediately and then the chicks will eat and drink when they are ready. Chicks will grow their feathers by 6 weeks old and can safely go outside once they reach 6-8 weeks providing the temperature is not too cold. If it is particularly cold then they may need acclimatising first.

Show Leghorn Hatching Eggs

Large Fowl	Some Basic Information	Egg Colour		Cost per Week-Old Chick	Cost per Pol Pullets
Black Leghorn	The Black Leghorns have a very green shimmer when you get close. They can Lay 200 eggs per year.Very Docile friendly Bird. Large Breed	White		£5.00	£18.00
Blue-Red Leghorns	Blue Reds Leghorns are Good Layers. These birds Will Lay Between 200-300 Eggs Per year in a good environment. Great Looking Bird	White		£5.00	£18.00
Brown Leghorn	Very Good Laying Bird Will Lay 200-300 Eggs Per year. Very docile and inquisitive Bird.	White		£5.00	£18.00
Buff Leghorns	The Buff Leghorn, Nice coloured bird, can be flighty. Produces good sized eggs lays vell throughout the year	White		£5.00	£18.00
Cuckoo Leghorn	If You want a good laying bird these go like the clappers. Lay well most of the year very friendly	White		£5.00	£18.00
Cuckoo Leghorns	As Above			£8.00	£18.00
Exchequer Leghorns	Exchequer Leghorns. These are one of my favorite. They lay well and look great.	White		£5.00	£18.00
Pile Leghorns	The Cock in this picture won the Best in 2008 Autumn show. The piles lay very well and are a very funny bird with a good character.	White		£5.00	£18.00
Red Mottled Leghorns	These leghorns are a lovely bird. They lay well and have a good temperment.	White		£5.00	£18.00
Bantam Mottled Leghorns	The Same as above but a smaller bird. These birds are rare.The eggs are much smaller.	White		£10.00	£20.00
Silver Duckwing Leghorns	This is a lovely bird, good all round for laying and temperment.	White		£8.00	£18.00
Bantam White Leghorns	Not a very good laying bird but a lovely looking with a freindly way. These hatching eggs come from another best show winner 2008	Small White		£10.00	£20.00
Dark Brown Leghorns	Very Rare bird. These Dark Brown Leghorns are rare in the UK with only 4 know groups*. Very lovely bird with coloures shimmering in the lights. VERY RARE	White		£22.00	£35.00
French Copper Maran	The Maran is a breed that originated in the French port town of Marans. It is renowned as a dual-purpose fowl for its gourmet-quality meat and its large sized, very dark brown eggs.			£8.00	£18.00
Rhode Island Red	Great Bird for its size and egg quality will lay well.		£1.50	£8.00	£18.00
Light Sussex	In its early history it was one of the main table birds for the London meat market, and was regarded as a top class table bird. Great Egg Layer		£2.00	£8.00	£25.00
Buff Orpington	Monster Chicken, very friendly, Lays good sized eggs		£3.00	£8.00	£25.00
Araucanas	Araucanas are a rare breed of chicken originally from Chile that lay blue/green eggs, with the colour permeating throughout the shell. The hens are good layers of medium sized eggs, We also have Blue Aran		£3.00	£8.00	£40.00
Brown Leghorn Group	Lavender Arucanas are a strange bird with their funny hairdo.		£3.00	£8.00	£25.00
Black Leghorn Group	MIXED LEGHORNS GREAT MIX Mixed From All The Above , This is the best way to hatch eggs as the eggs are only a few hours old when posted which gives a better hatch rate.Dark browns can be included somtimes.

Amount Of Eggs

Six Eggs £6.00 Tweleve Eggs £12.00

     

 

Large Fowl	Some Basic Information	Egg Colour	Cost per Egg	Cost per Week-Old Chick	Cost per Pol Pullets
Cream Legbar			£1.50	£8.00	£40.00
Rhode Island Red			£2.50	£8.00	£28.00
Bluebelle					£24.00
Light Brahma			£3.00	£8.00	£45.00
Silver-Grey Dorking	Dorking is the oldest variety of the breed and has five toes. It takes its current name from the market town in the South of England.		£3.00	£8.00	£40.00
Barnvelder	A pure breed from Holland, the Barnvelder has double laced feathering, is good natured and lays wonderful dark brown eggs.		£3.00	£8.00	£40.00
Silver Pencilled Wyandotte	The shape for the Wyandotte should be the same for all the colours. The Wyandotte has been described as the bird of curves, and that is what it is, with each of the curves being clearly defined. Very pretty bird in a variety colours		£3.00	£8.00	£45.00
French Wheaton Maran	The Maran is a breed that originated in the French port town of Marans. It is renowned as a dual-purpose fowl for its gourmet-quality meat and its large sized, very dark brown eggs.		£3.00	£8.00	£45.00
Black Rock	A friendly docile bird and probably one of the most successful hybrid for modern free range. A highly developed natural immune system means they have the potential to have a long and productive life. We have 6 other types of equal or better quality.				£45.00
Maran	The Maran is a breed that originated in the French port town of Marans. It is renowned as a dual-purpose fowl for its gourmet-quality meat and its large sized, very dark brown eggs.		£3.00	£8.00	£35.00
Gold Brahma	All Brahmas have a light coloured head. Buff are virtually identical to the Light Brahma with the exception of a buff coloration instead of white. Gold laced are stunning and of substantial size.		£3.00	£8.00	£45.00
Blue Laced Wyandotte	The shape for the Wyandotte should be the same for all the colours. The Wyandotte has been described as the bird of curves, and that is what it is, with each of the curves being clearly defined. Very pretty bird in a variety colours.		£3.00	£8.00	£45.00
Buff Cochin	The Buff variety is the most bred of the Cochin class; their soft, mellow, buff tone offers an attraction to fanciers that is hard to resist.		£3.00	£8.00	£40.00
French Copper Maran	The Maran is a breed that originated in the French port town of Marans. It is renowned as a dual-purpose fowl for its gourmet-quality meat and its large sized, very dark brown eggs.		£3.00	£8.00	£38.00
Gold Silkie	Silkies are friendly, quiet, tame birds that make great pets for just about everyone and have turned more then one person into a chicken lover - White/Black/Blue or Gold or Partridge.		£3.00	£8.00	£40.00
Black Silkie	Silkies are friendly, quiet, tame birds that make great pets for just about everyone and have turned more then one person into a chicken lover - White/Black/Blue or Gold or Partridge.		£3.00	£8.00	£40.00
Blue Silkie	Silkies are friendly, quiet, tame birds that make great pets for just about everyone and have turned more then one person into a chicken lover - White/Black/Blue or Gold or Partridge.		£3.00	£8.00	£45.00
White Silkie	Silkies are friendly, quiet, tame birds that make great pets for just about everyone and have turned more then one person into a chicken lover - White/Black/Blue or Gold or Partridge.		£3.00	£8.00	£40.00
Partridge Silkie	Silkies are friendly, quiet, tame birds that make great pets for just about everyone and have turned more then one person into a chicken lover - White/Black/Blue or Gold or Partridge.		£3.00	£8.00	£40.00
Buff Sussex	In its early history it was one of the main table birds for the London meat market, and was regarded as a top class table bird.		£3.00	£8.00	£40.00
Jubilee Orpington	The Orpington is one of the large, heavy, soft feathered breeds that are just beautiful in both temperament appearance. They are just so endearing that anyone that comes into contact with them, that they just have to keep some.		£3.00	£8.00	£45.00
Light Sussex	In its early history it was one of the main table birds for the London meat market, and was regarded as a top class table bird.		£3.00	£8.00	£35.00
Welsummer	The Welsumer's main characteristic is the large dark brown egg. Although considered a light, soft feathered, non sitting breed, the hens can go broody but tend not to make great mums. Welsumers are good foragers on free range		£3.00	£8.00	£36.00
Red Dorking	The Red Dorking is the oldest variety of the breed and has been known by many names, though it takes its current name from the market town in the South of England.		£3.00	£8.00	£50.00
Buff Orpington	The Orpington is one of the large, heavy, soft feathered breeds that are just beautiful in both temperament and appearance. They are just so endearing to anyone that comes into contact with them that they just have to keep some!		£3.00	£8.00	£40.00
Silver Laced Wyandotte	Wyandottes are good dual/general purpose birds that weigh 6 - 8.5lbs. They are birds of curves with attractive colour patterns. Hens lay 150 - 220 large light brown to brown eggs a year. They mature quickly and the meat quality is very good.		£3.00	£8.00	£45.00
Araucanas	Araucanas are a rare breed of chicken originally from Chile that lay blue/green eggs, with the colour permeating throughout the shell. The hens are good layers of medium sized eggs		£3.00	£8.00	£40.00
Gold Laced Wyandotte	Wyandottes are good dual/general purpose birds that weigh 6 - 8.5lbs. They are birds of curves with attractive colour patterns. Hens lay 150 - 220 large light brown to brown eggs a year. They mature quickly and the meat quality is very good.		£3.00	£8.00	£40.00

Hatching Eggs