how long should I wait?

[Anonymous]

hi
my pekins are now starting to come into lay. last year was there first season and didn't breed from them till quite late in the summer. I'm a bit over eager this year and was just wondering how long I should wait before the eggs are good to hatch? gordon the cockerel is starting to take an interest in the girls again but laying is a bit hit and miss at the moment.

 

[girlracer265]

if gordon is treading, the eggs should be viable but take into consideration that you will have to provide extra heat/ light till the days grow warmer/longer

 

[victorias poultry]

If you have heat lamps and adequate room for them to be in doors, then hatching this time of year will be no problem. I have been hatching pekins for the past 8 weeks. They will need to be in a brooder for the first few weeks then a larger indoor area when they start to grow. They won;t be able to go outside until the weather improves.
Good luck

 

[girlracer265]

my first hatch were sold within 3 days : and i hadve around 8 in the brooder at the moment but someone has already emailed today asking for chicks, i really want to keep some of these

 

[Anonymous]

thanks all for the advice. only have room to brood 1 brood at a time and am in middle of hatching a load of cpq and hopefully some serama so wont be trying my pekins for a few weeks yet anyway just wondered if I should leave it till they were further into the laying season or not, may try and wait untill the weather improves a bit but don't think i'll be able to wait that long as I'm not sure spring is ever going to get here