Good eggs
We know it’s unwise to count chickens before they hatch but if you can get the fertile egg selection right, you may achieve a full hatch.
Boost your chances with some effort. It’s not enough to aim for fertile eggs; you want a setting that’s chock-a-block with nutrients from fit, stress-free hens.
Healthy breeding birds need to be free of ectoparasites. Roosters troubled by lice or mites suffer reduced fertility, so check and treat if necessary — chemical free, of course.
Aggressive rooster behaviour is a major stress for hens and this can result in the deposition of corticosterone in eggs. Chicks from such eggs
