Trying for chicks

As mentioned previously, we are hoping to breed our own replacement layers and a few extra cockerels for eating.  To this end, we have our own big fluffy Orpington rooster (named Toasty), now at about ten months old;  and two nice Australorp hens of the same age.  These two hens have only begun laying and I've been collecting their eggs and saving them, not eating them.

The plan is to have six eggs, hopefully fertilized (we know they're trying, at least) ready for when our little broody hen Cookie--a Pekin bantam--is ready to hatch a nest.  I have four eggs saved now.  When I get seven, we'll eat the oldest egg and save the newest one;  I will continue to rotate them until Cookie's ready.  We think she's getting close as she's started laying eggs herself and she only lays in preparation for hatching, not year round like some of the others.

The husband thinks we should save our White Leghorn Florry's eggs too, but I honestly don't think they're fertilized;  I've only seen Toasty try and mate with the two Australorps and with Cookie--though I know that's not a successful match!  It's also possible that one or both of the Australorps will go broody.  If they do, we'll let them, but may have to buy extra fertilized eggs for them to sit on:  maybe even a few duck eggs.

If it turns out that the eggs I saved haven't fertilized and Cookie/other hens are still sitting on a nest after 4 weeks, Plan B is to sneak some day old chicks under her/them, like we did last year.  No doubt we'll be able to buy some locally.  The seven year old has been angling for some Silkies for the past year.