beginner at incubating-- many questions!

[AmyLM]

I have been considering getting an incubator and trying my hand at hatching my own chicks but before I spend any money and take the change I want to know I've set myself up for the best changes of success.

First of all: The incubator.

I was thinking about getting this one at tractor supply:
Little Giant Still Air Incubator with egg turner...are those ok? Do I also need additional supplies to go with it like the humidity and temp thing? Does it have to be the more expensive digital ones?


I'm assuming that a means of candling the eggs is mandatory... where should I get one from?

Getting eggs:
I have seen eggs on eBay, pretty much all of the hatcheries ext... whats the best place to order my first eggs from? Should I try to find local eggs? We have been thinking about getting duel purpose birds.. are those available as hatching eggs?


Is it too late in the season to get started with eggs? should I wait until next spring?

 

[AlienChick]

For a newbie, the LG incubator may be more trouble than it's worth.
If you can spend a little extra money for an incubator, go with a Genesis Hovabator 1588 with the auto-turner.
The humidity and temp monitors are already built into the new 1588.

You can use a flashlight to candle the eggs, so no need to buy anything fancy.
I only candle on day 10 to throw out the duds.

Find someone local who has chickens and ask them if they have some fertile eggs they can give you (or sell you).
You can hatch chicks year-round; but just know that if you hatch in the winter, you'll end up having to keep the chicks inside longer than you will want.
Chicks cannot handle the colder temps until they are fully feathered (6 weeks old).
During the warm summer it doesn't matter.

Good luck and enjoy your hatching!!

 

[nurse_turtle]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-and-raising-chicks

I DO NOT recommend the LG still air, especially for a beginner. The #1 key to successful hatching is knowledge. Do your research on this. It's not as simple as buying an incubator and putting in the eggs. The link above will tell you almost everything you need to know for success.

I highly recommend Hovabator.