5 Questions for you all - bit of a survey

[Ladyhawke1]

Quote:
Are you talking about Pekin Ducks or Bantam Cochins?

 

[Matt A NC]

1. I only hatched about 50 this year, but normally would set a full incubator(42) each time.

2. Every 2-3 weeks in a normal year.

3. Obsession

4. This year was mainly to improve my Show Stock and get some younger layers to off set my retirees that don't lay well anymore. Next year will be mostly laying type birds that will make me a little extra money to buy feed.

5. If by pekins you are referring to bantam cochins, then no. I can see what is going on fairly well with a good mini flash light with new batteries.

Matt

 

[LocoPollo]

1. how many eggs do you hatch in your incubator?

20 - That is all it holds and I only have one (atm!)

2. how often do you do it?

Working on my second but I plan to do it year round.

3. is this a hobby or an occupation for you?

Hobby

4. why do you incubate and hatch chicks? to keep the chickens? to sell them? (i'm starting to understand it's pretty addictive...)

I just... can't... stop... JK

No, I am building up my flock and trying to improve my breeds.

5. does anyone else that hatches pekins find it really really hard to see through the shells when trying to candle?

NA

 

[mangled]

1. how many eggs do you hatch in your incubator?

I can incubate a total of 41 chicken eggs in the turner.

2. how often do you do it?

Constantly running in the warm weather season. It's cleaned and in storage right now - too cold ouside for young chicks.

3. is this a hobby or an occupation for you?

It's an ADDICTION!!!

Well, it's a hobby, I guess.

4. why do you incubate and hatch chicks? to keep the chickens? to sell them? (i'm starting to understand it's pretty addictive...)

See above post, LOL. We keep the pullets for egg production and cull the excess cockerals for the stewpot.

5. does anyone else that hatches pekins find it really really hard to see through the shells when trying to candle?

Never hatched Pekins, sorry. If it makes you feel better, I've got an EE hen who lays eggs IMPOSSIBLE to see through with any candling device.

Em​

 

[sara]

1. how many eggs do you hatch in your incubator?

The turner holds around 40

2. how often do you do it?

I usually have it running all the time. However I did just take a 3 month brake as I was a little tired of having babies constantly.

3. is this a hobby or an occupation for you?

It's just a hobby, but sometimes it is so time consuming it feels like a job.

4. why do you incubate and hatch chicks? to keep the chickens? to sell them? (i'm starting to understand it's pretty addictive...)

Always trying to hatch new babies and improve my birds.

5. does anyone else that hatches pekins find it really really hard to see through the shells when trying to candle?

I've never had a problem seeing in any of the eggs I have incubated. I use a flash light or slide projector. Some eggs I can't see as clearly, but can always make out if they are growing.​

 

[dancingchicken77]

oh sorry, by pekin bantams i meant cochin bantams

 

[poultrylady]

1) How many eggs? Hundreds, I have 10 incubators, 9 of them hold 260 eggs each, one holds 600

2)How often? Year round, only running one right now though, I need a break.

3)Hobby or Occupation? Occupation

4)Why do you incubate? I sell chicks

5)I don't raise ducks anymore, but a good candler will work with them.

 

[DTchickens]

Quote:
yeah, have to watch it on this site as most are from the US, which we call Pekins Cochins, i myself probably would have thought ducks if you wouldn't have said "cheers" on the first post (meaning you were Australian or from the UK where.. they call Cochins Pekins

)

-Daniel

 

[BeardedChick]

1. how many eggs do you hatch in your incubator?

First one holds about 18 max. The one I'm building now should hold at least 40. But I probably won't do more than a doz. at a time unless I'm hatching for someone local...

2. how often do you do it?

This is my first hatch. I plan to do a few small hatches a year and would like to improve my stock, and sell the extras.

3. is this a hobby or an occupation for you?

Hobby, though it could be partial occupation. We have a small farm, so if I sell enough chickens to show a profit, it's becomes an occupation. Not sure exactly how this will all work out...

4. why do you incubate and hatch chicks? to keep the chickens? to sell them? (i'm starting to understand it's pretty addictive...)

Two reasons - I want better stock than what I've gotten from hatcheries, and I just hate shipping live chicks. Too many bad things can happen in transit. It's so hard on them. I'd rather enjoy hatching them myself.

5. does anyone else that hatches pekins find it really really hard to see through the shells when trying to candle?

I have some Welsummer eggs at the moment and can't see through them very well. It's only day 5, but heck if I can see any veins... It's much easier to see through the lighter colored eggs that I set in the 'bator.​

 

[Heather J]

1-I have three bators, each holds 41 eggs in the turner so far I've mostly done batches of 20 or fewer

2-I' probably hatch constantly, but my hens are on strike and I decided not to house babies all winter--but just wait until February.

3-Hobby

4-I've been hatching for myself, but I plan to sell chicks this spring-hopefully I can get the birds to support themselves!

5-My cochins aren't old enough to lay yet, but the ones I incubated a few months ago weren't bad to see through. My Cayuga duck eggs are nearly impossible, though.