Every chicken keeper remembers their first hatch.
I certainly remember mine. It was many years ago, under a determined Pekin bantam named Scarlet. I still recall checking on her every day, multiple times a day if I’m honest, wondering whether she and her precious eggs were OK. Twenty-one days later, Scarlet proudly introduced me to a nest full of chicks, and I was hooked. Even now, I find it remarkable that a tiny chick can emerge from an egg after just three weeks of incubation.
A fertile egg looks no different from any other egg, yet it holds remarkable possibilities. For some, it represents the start of a backyard flock. For others, it marks the next step in their own version of the “homesteading” life. And when I say “homesteading”, I don’t necessarily mean owning acres of land and a barn full of animals. It might be a backyard in suburbia, a small holding on the outskirts of a village, or a few productive chickens scratching around beside the clothesline. It’s less about where you live and more about being involved in producing some of your own food, caring for animals, and developing practical skills that
bring a little more self-reliance into everyday life. For many people, chickens are where that journey begins, and hatching fertile eggs is often what takes it to the next level.
Chickens: Small Birds, Big Lessons
At Schoolhouse Farm, we describe heritage chickens as much more than productive backyard birds. Beyond their undeniable beauty and intrigue, they help us stay connected to our values, turn kitchen scraps into eggs, contribute to compost production, and encourage an awareness of the seasons. Indeed, I think chickens are one of the most accessible ways to begin living more sustainably. You don’t need acres of land, and plenty of people successfully keep a small flock in an urban backyard. For those who wish to take that journey a little further, it’s worth remembering that many heritage chicken breeds are traditionally considered dual-purpose breeds. Unlike modern commercial breeds that have often been selected primarily for egg production, dual-purpose breeds put energy into both egg laying and body development. This means they can provide a steady supply of eggs and, if you choose to hatch your own, an ethical and sustainable source of home-produced meat.
The Reality Behind the Hatch
As wonderful as hatching can be, it’s important to remember that things will sometimes go wrong and outcomes won’t always match our expectations. A fertilised egg is not a guarantee of a chick. Even when eggs come from well-cared for breeding birds, with active roosters and proven fertility, many factors influence the outcome. Weather conditions, egg handling, storage, transport, incubator management, and even the behaviour of a broody hen can all affect hatchability. Sometimes nearly every egg hatches. Sometimes only a few do. These outcomes can be disappointing, particularly for first-time hatchers, but they are a normal part of working with living animals. Learning to accept these uncertainties is part of the experience and part of the responsibility that comes with hatching chicks.
Thinking Beyond Hatch Day
As exciting as hatch day can be, the real work begins afterwards. Every chick that emerges from its shell is a living animal that will require housing, feed, care, and management. Which means that, well before setting your fertile eggs, it's worth looking
beyond the excitement of hatch day and considering what comes next. Do you have enough space? Suitable housing? The time and resources to care for the birds as they grow? Are you ready for the roosters? On average, around half of the chicks that hatch are likely to be male. Unfortunately, suitable homes for unwanted roosters will be difficult to find, so it's important to have a realistic and responsible plan before you begin. For some, raising surplus roosters for the table forms part of a sustainable food system. Others may have arrangements with local zoos or wildlife parks. Whatever approach you take, responsibility for a chick begins long before it hatches. This may not be the most glamorous side of poultry keeping, but it is one of the most important. Choosing to hatch chicks means accepting responsibility for the outcome, not just enjoying the excitement of the process.
Is Hatching Fertile Eggs Right for You?
Hatching fertile eggs is one of those experiences that combines excitement, wonder, anticipation, concern and responsibility in equal measure.
Not every egg will hatch.
Not every hatch will go smoothly.
Not every chick will thrive.
But perhaps that’s exactly the point.
Whether you live on acreage, a hobby farm, or a suburban block with room for just a few hens, hatching fertile eggs can be a rewarding part of your own “homesteading”journey. It isn’t always predictable, and it isn’t always successful. But that’s part of the appeal. Every hatch brings anticipation, learning, and, if all goes well, the excitement of seeing a new generation of chicks emerge into the world. For us, that’s what makes fertile eggs so special. They represent possibility, practical skills, and the chance to participate in a process that has connected people, animals, and food production for generations.
If you’d like to learn more about purchasing, storing, incubating and hatching fertile eggs, including answers to common questions, visit our Fertile Egg FAQ.
