Anybody out there discover they're not really that "into" hatching?

[kla37]

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That is the best way to go. I have never owned an incubator and at time I envy those that have incubators. But when I begin to read posts that talk about humidy, temperature and moisture problems with incubators, I am immediately thankful to my broody hens that do an superb job at hatching for me. I love my broody hens!

With how clumsy and forgetful I am, I just know that a hen would do a much better job than I ever could even with the best technology at my fingertips! That's what they are made to do anyway.

 

[kuntrygirl]

One day I hope to borrow an incubator from someone who is willing to let me borrow one just to experience it. But I will always let my broody hens hatch out my babies. I must admit that when my broody hens hatch eggs, the hatch ratch is 98.999999 %. Rarely is there an egg that doesn't hatch. And the few that don't hatch is because the egg wasn't fertile.

I love it when I go in to change their water and put feed, how the hen has turned another way after they have turned their eggs. They are always facing in another direction. I'm so amazed when I see that.

 

[texasgal]

Yup. Right after I had a broody hen hatch and raise 3 chicks .. wow. was THAT easy!

 

[chicmom]

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Speaking of broodies, can a large fowl hen brood bantam eggs? I have a broody (surprise!) and I'm getting eggs this week.....Wondering if I can just tuck those eggs under my GLW, Delores? Marymac, I truly think you're right....let the broody do it!

 

[chicmom]

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Hmm....maybe I need that thermometer. I have a Brinsea Octagon Eco 20...(not the advanced, no turner). I turn the eggs by tilting the whole incubator. I was just going by the liquid in glass thermometer that is mounted in the incubator.......

Only got two chicks out of 13 eggs, and I discovered the glass thermometer had a liquid separation....I couldn't see it because I've just started wearing bifocal contact lenses.......Anyhow the hatch was a disaster! A few early deaths, partial growth, and even some full grown chicks that just didn't come out of the shell.......I was bummed.

I don't know if I want to try again.....I do think I fussed with the incubator WAY too much. Probably broke all the rules.....

 

[Stacykins]

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Speaking of broodies, can a large fowl hen brood bantam eggs? I have a broody (surprise!) and I'm getting eggs this week.....Wondering if I can just tuck those eggs under my GLW, Delores? Marymac, I truly think you're right....let the broody do it!

I know a friend who used a tiny bantam hen who was the best brood mother out there to brood peafowl eggs. Oh my, how quickly her brood of peachick fuzzy butts outgrew her, and yet she still tried to set on those babes as best she could! I would expect a large fowl hen would be gentle enough to brood bantam eggs

 

[gryeyes]

I AM a hatchaholic. But I approach each batch with the expectation that nothing will hatch. Honestly. Each live hatchling is a .... I hate to use this word for fear of someone misunderstanding me, but each is a little miracle. From something I could have easily cracked open and cooked for breakfast 21 days earlier, comes this little life.

I don't obsess about it. If they don't hatch, okay, I am out some money. If I spent a lot on those eggs, well, I've blown money before in my life for far less interesting reasons and/or things.

If they do hatch, wahoo! I do kinda hope, once a chick or duckling is out and doing well, that there will be a second to keep it company. However, I am now hatching frequently enough to have other babies in brooders to take care of that situation.

I guess I just don't get that wound up about bad hatches.

 

[chicmom]

I know a friend who used a tiny bantam hen who was the best brood mother out there to brood peafowl eggs. Oh my, how quickly her brood of peachick fuzzy butts outgrew her, and yet she still tried to set on those babes as best she could! I would expect a large fowl hen would be gentle enough to brood bantam eggs

Stacykins, I hope you're right. It would be so much easier to just let my broody, Delores, hatch those eggs. They've been mailed from a friend today (bantam polish frizzles), and Delores has just gone broody a few days ago, so I think it would be better if I could just stick those little eggs under her........

Sharon

 

[chicmom]

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Grreyes, I think you have the right attitude. I should learn to think that way.....I'll try. My first hatch with the Brinsea at least gave me two little Olive Egger chicks.....I'm happy about that.

 

[ddroland]

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My favorite part about the hen doing the hatching is she also does the brooding!