Advice?

[KikiLeigh02]

I'm going to try my luck at incubating and hatching eggs. I looked through the articles and reviews but I still have a few questions:

1) What do you look for in an incubator? I'm getting a little overwhelmed with all the different options. I think the most I would ever try to hatch at once is 48, definitely not to start though.

2) Is there a breed that is best to start with? I was thinking maybe Olive Eggers?

3) Do you know of any really good articles or step by step instructions for a total beginner?

 

[danceswithronin]

Don't have much experience in this arena yet, but if I was going to start incubating I'd look at Brinsea's incubator products, I have bought two of their brooder panels in the past few weeks (one for my day old chicks and one for a clutch of orphaned barn swallows) and have been very pleased with the quality of their equipment so far. They were a bit expensive (around $90 apiece on Amazon) but they're sturdy and fireproof and that was worth the money to me.

 

[Unexpected chicken lover]

I can't recommend an incubator, I've always used one, but I'd start with light colored eggs. Olive egger eggs are VERY hard to candle

 

[sylviethecochin]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

 

[KikiLeigh02]

So lighter brown or white eggs would be best to start with?

 

[Unexpected chicken lover]

If its your first time hatching, yes. Its easier to see through the shell when candling so you know what's going on inside

 

[sylviethecochin]

Or you could do blue (actual blue. Not green.) They're pretty cool. (Get Olive Egger eggs from someone who has Ameraucana hens and a Marans or Welsummer roo, maybe?)

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I was just looking at some Sage Eggers, and wondering if those would work. Said they would arrive as light brown egg (I think they're from a Cream Legbar rooster x Welsummer hen). I was also thinking about Welsummers. I love the speckled eggs, but would that make it more difficult?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Welsummers are hard to candle. Honestly, though, if green eggs are what you want, get some green eggs. I personally feel that you're missing out if you can't see the chick developing in the shell, but you'll still have fun, and with luck, you'll still get chicks.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

Thank you all for the help. What kind would you reccomend for the first time? My twelve year old step son is so excited to try, and I want him to get the full experience.