Broody Hens vs Incubator

[edenrice]

Pros and Cons?

 

[centrarchid]

Incubator

Pro's
More capacity
Cheaper on a per chick hatched basis
More control in terms of when start of incubation
More skill required

Con's
Vulnerable to power failure
Lower Hatch percentage
Stable environment needed for incubator
Cretenism higher

Hen

Pro's
Can replace brooder
Protects chicks / eggs during inclement weather
Less skill required
Operates in a wide range of temperatures.

Con's
Requires much more investment in terms of feed
Much lower capacity for chicks hatched and reared
Do not start on your time table

 

[SueT]

But remember hens go broody on their schedule not yours. Not all hens are reliably broody for the required length of time. You can only fit so many eggs under a hen.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Pros and Cons?

Both are good. If you want a few chicks---when you get a broody hen---set her. If you want a lot of chicks, set the incubator. With both you need to do your home-work to have better hatch rates. My broody hens(over 70 sets last year) hatch 98 to 100%. My Incubators---hatched over 6000 last year and had a 95 to 100% hatch rate. I like Both---no Cons with either.