First large Set of Eggs for 2026.

[Elijah Ensor]

This is the first big set of eggs for the 2026 season going into the gqf.  I use an older 1202 model and have great success with it. Eggs include large fowl in Blue Wheaten, Buff, Silver, White, Black, and Blue.   A few wheaten and white bantams included and White Crested Polish bantams and Large SC white leghorns.  Plus a few odds and ends.  124 eggs total, don't count your chicks before they hatch though.  (Hoping for about 100)

[Mike Gilbert]

Good for you Elijah.  My last hatch will come off about March 19th, although I will set a few broody hens yet.   Do you candle your eggs to check for fertility?

[John W Blehm]

This is the first big set of eggs for the 2026 season going into the gqf.  I use an older 1202 model and have great success with it...

If the eggs are going in the setter, in those paper egg flats I suggest drilling or punching holes in each egg cavity to allow for better air flow and a more even temperature and humidity around each egg. This would simulate the design of the plastic trays used for this purpose.

[Elijah Ensor]

I candle about 5-7 days in, and then again at Day 18 depending on if I need space or not.  I've had great success with the cardboard flats and never thought to cut the bottoms, but I may need to try it.  Thank You!

[Russ Blair]

Elijah I just set my second batch of eggs. The first setting, which was 14 days of collecting, was very disappointing. I only had about 50% fertility, with them coming from one black and two blue bantam breeding pens. Oh I take that back I did have 5 fertile blue silver bantam eggs that were fertile as well.

[Elijah Ensor]

Russ, I expect things to pick up (for the both of us hopefully) I want to stay around 250-300 chicks this year.   I had about 500 last year.    Being that I primarily keep LF that got to be to much.   If you have spare, I'm looking for bantams in Blue wheaten, Buff and Silver (interested in Blue Silvers). Thank You.