Setting Your Chicken Hatching Eggs by the Moon

The age-old practice of setting hatching eggs under certain moon phases is part folklore, part old wives tale. Whether or not you actually believe that chicks hatched under these signs will do better than chicks hatched at other times during the month, what do you have to lose by giving it a try?

Traditionally, it was thought that chicks should be timed to hatch just before a full moon - during the waxing moon phase - because they would grow faster and be healthier. And that those that hatched during a waning moon - or one that was growing smaller -  would be weak and might not survive. 

So instead of just picking a random date to set your eggs, this year why not time your hatch for one of the more "fruitful" hatch dates. To set the eggs to hatch on the proper day, you have to count back twenty-one days (it takes chicken eggs three weeks to hatch) from one of the optimal hatch dates and then set the eggs on that specific date. 
But don't worry, there's no counting or calculating involved!  Fortunately this handy chart compiled by Farmers' Almanac takes all the counting out of it and lists the most beneficial dates for setting eggs. 

Best Days to Set Eggs in 2018

Although I think this advice might merely be something fun to try (I don't believe there's any scientific study behind it), many people actually do swear by this. I would bet your grandmother  (and mine) did! What do you think? Is there any merit to setting hatching eggs by the moon? Have you ever tried it? 

Further References:The Frank C. Brown Collection of NC FolkloreFolklore from Adams CountyBig Four Poultry Journal


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Take a Peek at my Week - Jan 21st to 27th

Although my trip last weekend to warm, sunny California was a nice change from winter in Maine, I have to admit that I missed the snow a teeny little bit, and I'm super happy to be back home, sitting in front of the fire sipping some hot spiced tea (check out the Hot Cinnamon Spice from Harney & Sons, it's my new favorite!) writing about chickens! Like the chickens, I'm very routine-oriented, so it's nice to be home and back into the family routine. Hope you're staying warm! Why not pour yourself a nice hot beverage and enjoy this peek at my week.

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Take a Peek at my Week - Jan 14th to 20th

Much as I love being at home, I have to admit that every trip I've been on has been so wonderful! I've had the opportunity to see parts of the country I've never been to before and meet so many nice people. This past week I headed out to California. I met up with my friend Stefani, an edible landscape designer at Homestead Design Collective, and her chickens - who completely stole the show at Good Day Sacramento! We visited Morningsun Herb Farm in Vacaville and petted their goats and donkeys then toured the beautiful greenhouses. Then we drove out to see the Golden Gate Bridge and ate ramen in Berkeley. I had a chance to meet the rest of Stefani's chickens and then left with a tote full of fresh citrus from the trees in her backyard! I also hosted a super fun informal "meet & greet" at Barnes and Noble, before I headed back home to Maine. In between, I explored downtown Sacramento, saw the state house, walked around Old Sacramento (super cute!) and had lunch at Ten22 (I highly recommend their bacon, Brussels sprouts and Gorgonzola pizza). I drank lots of bad hotel coffee, ate lots of amazing local food and wore cute shoes (one of the benefits of traveling means no stepping in chicken poop, of course, so I can step out of my muck boots and into fancy footwear!) But the highlight of my trip definitely was hanging out for a couple of hours with all the amazing women (and lone guy!) Sunday afternoon. I flew back yesterday and arrived back in Maine in the middle of a sleet/snow storm. But it's good to be home. Enjoy this peek at my week!

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