I think the big hatcheries don't sex bantams, do they? Also then you are talking about a quality control issue in some cases. But I like to work toward breed standard. I agree that the fun of the hatch, and watching how awesome the mama birds are with their babies is very worth it. I don't like incubator hatching nearly as much, though have resorted to it when needed. My friend and I hatched out chicks in her incubator last spring. She had a broody just kicking out teen chicks, who then took over the new babies as well! I hand-raised my set. At six weeks hers were fully 30% larger than mine, although mine were much tamer. Mama hen really knows what she is doing!I think it would depend on the hatch rate. My last hatch I figured that I ended up paying something like $5.25 each (not counting electricity for the bator) vs. $6-$8 for chicks. But they were all boys so I'm not sure how that works out. Then again - day-old chicks are straight run also and you don't get the fun of hatching.