Broody hen vs incubator poll

[KittyCat13]

My experienced broody hens are fab and, for me, beat an incubator. I love watching them raise their chicks and it's much easier.

But first time broody hens are far more stressful, I always worry about them abandoning the nest and I did have some chicks killed by a first time broody this week

I do love my incubator too though, it's such fun watching them hatch!

 

[mdees88]

I prefer an incubator because it is an controlled environment. I have a GQF cabinet incubator and I have had great success hatching shipped eggs. Of over 300 shipped quail eggs I have averaged a 74% hatch rate on total eggs set and a 93% hatch rate on viable eggs at lockdown.

I like my incubator because I can do staggered hatches and it holds 1600 quail eggs. Once I set my temp and humidity I do not have to touch the incubator until lockdown. It constantly maintains a water level in the incubator so the humidity stays constant. Many styrofoam incubators require constant monitoring and adjustment to maintain proper parameters. With a cabinet incubator you pretty much set it and forget it. Just make sure you use a calibrated thermometer hygrometer. I now have 6 thermometer/hygrometers and only 4 of them are accurate.

The most I've hatched at once is 86. Not sure how many broody's it would take to hatch that many at once.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Wow thanks everyone!! Broody is in the lead by 5

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

I prefer an incubator because it is an controlled environment. I have a GQF cabinet incubator and I have had great success hatching shipped eggs. Of over 300 shipped quail eggs I have averaged a 74% hatch rate on total eggs set and a 93% hatch rate on viable eggs at lockdown.

I like my incubator because I can do staggered hatches and it holds 1600 quail eggs. Once I set my temp and humidity I do not have to touch the incubator until lockdown. It constantly maintains a water level in the incubator so the humidity stays constant. Many styrofoam incubators require constant monitoring and adjustment to maintain proper parameters. With a cabinet incubator you pretty much set it and forget it. Just make sure you use a calibrated thermometer hygrometer. I now have 6 thermometer/hygrometers and only 4 of them are accurate.

View attachment 1397678

How much did that cost?

 

[MROO]

Unfortunately, I don't have much choice. I kinda have to use a broody. Nankins just don't seem to do well in an incubator. They need to hear mama talking to them all along or hatch rates plummet. I had a first-timer quit on me the first week, so I have those in a bator at the moment, but I'm not really expecting any peeps, now. Still ... one can hope!

 

[featherhead007]

I, and Mamma prefer it this way!

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

I, and Mamma prefer it this way!View attachment 1397726

so cute

 

[featherhead007]

View attachment 1397780

so cute

mama, is my snuggle chicken bestest buddy hen

 

[mdees88]

How much did that cost?

$250 used. The new ones run around $800. Sounds crazy high but they are worth every penny IMO.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

$250 used. The new ones run around $800. Sounds crazy high but they are worth every penny IMO.

that’s actually not horrible I’ve seen some like that that were 1500$ I think that’s a little bit too much