Benifits of hatching your own eggs?

[AndyL]

I am brand new to the chicken world so please patient and bare with me!

After reading quite a few threads on using incubators to hatch eggs can you tell me the very basic advantages to doing this instead of having live chicks shipped to you for example?

I know if you don't have a rooster you could receive fertilized eggs to hatch yourself but it seems some folks go the incubator route even when they have the ability to have a hen brood them.

I guess basically I want to know folks thoughts on using incubators in general to hatch eggs!

Thanks, Andy.

 

[Keisha]

Well I like being able to hatch out my own eggs from my chickens, and I have an incubator since none of my hens ever go broody. In some cases it could be cheaper to buy the hatching eggs than it would be to buy the chicks from hatcheries depending on the breed. Also most hatcheries dont have chicks that would be considered of a good quality,where you could find some eggs online. And its just cool to hatch chicks out

 

[Chickie'sMoma]

i went the route of getting the incubator and turner. but i've noticed that i tend to have problems with the toes not fully forming or missing an occasional talon. but i've been told that is because i have a turner that will turn the eggs back and forth 6 times a day, i guess it should be done about 3 times max?!

i'm still a newbie at the hatching process and have learned that you really need to have patience the 2-3 days during the pipping/hatching process to let them hatch on their own. i've been trying to hatch bantam polish but have the habit of wanting to help them out of the shell when i think they aren't going to hatch. out of 3 eggs developed from the 1st batch of eggs i had one hatch with my help towards the end. 2nd batch none hatched but some pipped and i again tried to help. the last one of 5 developed eggs 3 hatched but 1 later died because i opened the bator not seeing this one still working on the egg. i've had much better luck with the faverolles, better hatch rate by far.

my next batch will be my 5th try in about 4 months. (i overlapped some of my hatches.) i like being there when they are hatching so i can shine a light on them to see their faces and hear their first chirps! it's been exciting to come into the bator room in the morning or come home from a long day of work to see the eggs chipping or seeing the new faces shining their eyes your direction. they imprint on you better i think.

i've been hearing horror stories from others on the forums that they have occasional problems with hatcheries. either lots of crossed beaks or dead birds due to over weekend shipments, or dying just after they arrive because they weren't in the best health before being sent. but i guess it depends on how big of a city you may live in or near. it also depends on the seasonal demand for certain breeds.

 

[AndyL]

Thanks folks for your input I appreciate it! Every little bit of info helps me learn!

Andy

 

[Chicky Tocks]

There is a huge difference between hatchery stock and getting eggs from your own or from a reputable breeder.

Secondly, unless you purchase pullets only, your odds of roo to pullet ratio are increased humongously! Like once I bought 12 chicks from straight run and got 12 roos.

Third, there's nothing like the waiting, watching and satisfaction of saying look what I did!

 

[AK Michelle]

I just like hatching cause it's like Christmas, all those little presents and nobody really knows what's inside or how it will come out. The kids love to watch the chicks hatch (and so do the grown-ups) the biggest problem is that I have to keep cleaning all the nose-prints off the window!

Michelle

 

[suenrob]

It's just FUN!!!!!!!! So exciting to see the first pip....then a zip.....then that first little chicks pops out of the egg.....and you are addicted for life!!!!!!!! The miracle of life is just so awesome to watch, over and over again.....

 

[ChickyLaura]

I think there's a better variety and availability with eggs. I found mottled Java eggs on ebay (in my bator now). I don't know of a single hatchery that has Java chicks right now. Of course you don't know how many will hatch, etc. etc. Then again, you can have eggs shipped from someone across the country that has a backyard flock. But not sure how many people are willing to ship chicks. There's pros and cons for each.

Of course, I'm new to all of this too. Good luck!

 

[Chic Chick]

With using an incubator I like being able to set a clutch of eggs whenever I want to, and not be at the mercy of a bunch of hens that might not go broody.
Fertillized eggs are cheaper to buy then live chicks, and anyone can ship eggs from anywhere.
The main reason that I use an incubator is to hatch chicks that I sell in the spring. These pay for my main flocks' food for the whole year.