CHICKENS

For us, heritage chickens are more than productive backyard birds. They are part of creating a rich, sustainable life, connecting people with food production, animal care, practical homesteading skills, and the satisfaction of growing food and raising animals of their own. Offering fertile eggs is one way we can help these wonderful breeds find homes in new backyard flocks while supporting others on their own poultry-keeping journey.

No. We do not post fertile eggs.
Fertile eggs are available for collection from our farm in Verona or, by prior arrangement, within your local community.

All eggs sold as fertile eggs are collected from breeding pens containing roosters. Before making eggs available for sale, we also test fertility by hatching a small batch ourselves. That said, while fertility rates are typically high, fertility can never be guaranteed. Fertility and hatchability are influenced by a range of factors, including natural breeding behaviour, weather conditions, transport, storage, handling, the behaviour of a broody hen, and the reliability and management of an incubator.

By purchasing fertile eggs, you acknowledge that fertilisation and successful hatching are natural processes beyond our control, and as such we cannot guarantee fertility or hatch rates.

At Schoolhouse Farm, fertile eggs are typically priced between $50 and $75 per dozen, depending on the breed. We are also happy to supply smaller quantities of 6-10 eggs for those hatching under a broody hen, or up to a maximum of two dozen eggs for customers using an incubator. Prices are adjusted accordingly for smaller or larger orders.

While it can be tempting to focus solely on price, it is worth considering the quality of the breeding stock, fertility testing, flock health, and the care taken in collecting and handling the eggs. These factors can have a significant impact on your hatching experience and results.

One very important step is to allow the eggs to rest for 24 to 48 hours after transport and before setting them. Resting allows the contents of the egg to settle, particularly if the eggs have been moved or travelled some distance.

Taking the time to prepare properly and allowing the eggs to rest can help give your hatch the best possible start.

Store fertile eggs in a cool, stable environment out of direct sunlight. A temperature of around 12-18°C is ideal. Avoid refrigerating fertile eggs, as temperatures that are too cold can reduce hatchability.

Place the eggs with the pointed end facing down and, if possible, gently tilt or turn them once a day. This helps keep the yolk centred and prevents the developing embryo from sticking to the shell membrane.

For best results, we recommend setting eggs within one week of receiving them.

Most importantly, once you get your eggs home, allow them to rest for 24-48 hours before placing them under a broody hen or in an incubator.

Before hatching chicks, consider whether you have suitable housing, time, feed, and ongoing care available for all birds that hatch. Chicks will need heat – from a heat lamp in a brooder box or from sleeping under a hen – for at least 6 weeks.

It is important to understand that, on average, at least 50% of your chicks are likely to be roosters. Before setting fertile eggs, you should have a realistic and responsible plan for what you will do with any roosters that hatch. A common mistake is to assume that homes will be easy to find for unwanted roosters. In reality, there is often very little demand for roosters, and finding suitable homes will be difficult. For this reason, your plan should not rely on rehoming opportunities becoming available. One responsible option is to grow-out surplus roosters and process them for your own consumption. While this may not be the right choice for everyone, it is an important consideration for those interested in self-sufficiency, homesteading, or sustainable food production. Another option is to contact a local zoo or wildlife park, as many are happy to accept surplus roosters as part of their animal feeding programs.

Hatching chicks carries a responsibility to provide for every bird that results from the hatch. Before starting, ensure you can accommodate, manage, or otherwise responsibly care for both hens and roosters throughout their lives. We strongly encourage all prospective hatchers to think carefully about this before committing to a hatch.

Most chicken eggs hatch after 21 days of incubation, whether they are under a broody hen or in an incubator. However, it is perfectly normal for hatching to occur a day or two earlier or later.

We recommend counting Day 1 as the day after the eggs are placed under your broody hen or into the incubator. Avoid opening the incubator or disturbing a broody hen unnecessarily as hatch day approaches, and especially once hatching begins, as changes in temperature, humidity, or excessive disturbance can affect hatching success.

If no chicks have hatched by Day 24, it is unlikely that the remaining eggs will hatch. Should any hatch after this point, the chicks may lack the vigour needed to thrive.

Remember that nature does not work to a timetable. Some chicks emerge quickly, while others can take 24 hours or more from the first sign of pipping to fully hatch. Patience is often the key to a successful hatch.

A broody hen can do an excellent job of hatching and raising chicks, but a little preparation goes a long way.

Provide a safe, dedicated, quiet nesting area that is clean, dry, and protected from disturbance from other chickens, predators and extreme weather.

Move her to her own area at night, at least two nights before you plan to give her your fertile eggs.

Place a few eggs from your own flock under her and ensure she remains committed to the nest for at least 48 hours before risking your purchased eggs.

Once she has settled, wait until after dark and swap the eggs for the fertile eggs.

Hens generally accept the change more readily at night.

Ensure the nest is large enough for her to comfortably cover all the eggs without them rolling away.

Keep feed, fresh water and a dusting ‘bowl’ nearby so she can easily eat, drink, dust- bath and relieve herself. She will likely only leave the nest once every 24-36 hours

Avoid excessive checking or handling. Most broody hens know what they're doing, and too much disturbance can cause them to abandon the nest.

Yes, we recommend candling eggs at around 10 days of incubation. By this stage, it is usually much easier to identify developing embryos and remove any eggs that are infertile or have stopped developing. Candling is not essential for a successful hatch, but it can help improve hatch outcomes. Occasionally, non-developing eggs can spoil and even burst during incubation, potentially contaminating other eggs and affecting the hatch. If you’re using a broody hen, removing non-viable eggs also means she can focus her attention and warmth on the eggs that are developing, giving them more space and the best chance of success. Candling is simple to do. In a completely dark room, shine a bright light through the egg. Many poultry keepers use a purpose-made egg candler, but a bright torch placed against one end of a cardboard toilet roll works just as well. A developing egg will typically show veins and a growing embryo, while an infertile egg usually appears clear.

Please contact us for current availability.

This spring, our core breeds are Barnvelder and Australorp (Black, Blue, and Splash).

We are not breeding in 2026.