Hi, i have some 7 month old hens layiny eggs and wonder if it should try to incubate them right now. I know they are smaller eggs than what an older hen lays but if i wait much longer , the chicks might not be old enough to winter over if i wait. What would you do? Should i try to hatch these early eggs or should i just wait intil next year?

Well, It's day 21 and i have 2 eggs starting to pip.So it looks like my 7 month old roosters were firtle and can produce chicks at that young age. I am soo…. excited. I will keep everyone posted on the turnout and progress of the chicks. I have a second batch started in a 2nd incubater as well that i started last week.

Please don't laugh, but i have 3 hens that are frizzel/ancona cross and one of them came with three chicks that appear to be frizzel/ancona/sumatra cross.

I have a black jersy giant rooster that managed to breed at least two of the hens and out of thirty eggs incubated in april, 9 hatched.(I paid someone to hatch them)

Of the chicks it is clear that one part is from a frizzel/ancona hen, making them frizzel/ancona/giant crosses and the other part of the batch, 5 of them, are obviously out of one of the sumatra cross pullets.

They are really neat birds.

they are four months old now and the sumatra tails are starting to come in on the two cockrels.  I have one pullet that has some 'wry' feathers in her tail but I think that is the 'frizzel' coming through. 

We jokingly call them our 'Giant Bantams'.  ha ha… Only on the reservation!

I am married to a Washoe Indian and we may persue this line of breeding as we want to have birds that will lay, sit, and produce some meat, all the while watching for hawks, eagles and coyotes.  This is what it will mean to be 'free range' on the reservation. lol : )

I believe the sumatra part will be improtant part of the new 'washoe chicken'.

Glad I found your forum.

I ended up with 3 chicks the first hatch. I got 6 the second hatch and a 3rd hatch is expected Sept. 3rd. All the chicks are doing just fine at this time and growing.