Breeding for Chicks

[centrarchid]

First go around at this might more easily done by letting hens doing the laying to go broody and rear chicks. I have been keeping chickens for a longtime yet recently when I started using incubators found that it was easy to outstrip my capacity rear them. Especially once they are past brooder phase.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Out of curiosity, what makes it the best value? Because the website says that too and I have yet to look at it so I don't know. Is it because it's plastic instead of Styrofoam or does it come with some other stuff or?

 

[ShrekDawg]

First go around at this might more easily done by letting hens doing the laying to go broody and rear chicks. I have been keeping chickens for a longtime yet recently when I started using incubators found that it was easy to outstrip my capacity rear them. Especially once they are past brooder phase.

Very true. One of my hens went broody last month but we don't have a rooster. I broke her but I might let her go broody in the spring and buy some eggs for her

 

[junebuggena]

Out of curiosity, what makes it the best value? Because the website says that too and I have yet to look at it so I don't know. Is it because it's plastic instead of Styrofoam or does it come with some other stuff or?

The thermostat component is incredibly reliable and steady. It's fully programmable to suit a range of incubating conditions. And it includes the turner and tray, something that adds about $100 to the Brinsea models. Really easy to clean. Easy to replace parts, should you need to. Durable, mine fell off the kitchen counter onto a tile floor and it still works great. And you can't beat the customer service. No hassle return and replacement parts for the first year.

 

[junebuggena]

It's like buying the Brinsea 20 advance, but it's a lot cheaper, and it holds more eggs.

 

[ShrekDawg]

The thermostat component is incredibly reliable and steady. It's fully programmable to suit a range of incubating conditions. And it includes the turner and tray, something that adds about $100 to the Brinsea models. Really easy to clean. Easy to replace parts, should you need to. Durable, mine fell off the kitchen counter onto a tile floor and it still works great. And you can't beat the customer service. No hassle return and replacement parts for the first year.

It's like buying the Brinsea 20 advance, but it's a lot cheaper, and it holds more eggs.

Wow that does sound really great. Might have to get it. Brinsea seems over priced to me. How does it compare to the hoverbator? Not sure i like the Styrofoam bit

 

[birdwrangler057]

The problem with a hen hatching the eggs for me is that barely any of my go broody, and when they do, they are very rough on eggs

 

[centrarchid]

Broodiness is often breed dependent. How broody will EE x Cochins be? Birds I work with are reliably broody.

 

[holm25]

I personally would get a Hovabator. Cheap and effective. Then if you like hatching buy a bigger and better incubator.

The best thing you can do to get them to breed is to leave them alone and do their thing. But I would put them in a separate pen so you can tell when she is laying and make sure your hen is being bred by the rooster you want. Just a separate coop with a run and feed, water, nest boxes and roosts.

 

[junebuggena]

Wow that does sound really great. Might have to get it. Brinsea seems over priced to me. How does it compare to the hoverbator? Not sure i like the Styrofoam bit

I prefer the plastic of the Incuview, it simply wipes clean. A couple clorox wipes and it's ready for another round. No soaking in bleach. Styrofoam can harbor bacteria.