Chicke Hatching, What is your preferred strategy?

[GOLDENSEABRIGHT]

Hello everyone,
It's time to see what is preferred by chicken farmers whether to have a broody hen or incubator and why. Strategy in raising chicks can be difficult to pick out so lets see which way is most popular. If you say broody hen state why and the conditions you use the hen under(where you keep her and how much light, food, and water is present). If you say incubator state why and which brand is your favorite and why. If you choose other, explain what that process is.

 

[lovetopaint]

I have never hatched eggs, but if I ever do it'd be under a broody! That seems like the natural way to me. Although if I don't have one I suppose an incubator.

 

[sdm111]

Broodies all the way. In a 5' deep x 4' wide dome pen covered nesting box. I use grey american game hens. Their excellent mothers and have had all but one 100% hatches this year. Incubating is good if u have only one or two hens of a certain breed and u need them to keep laying but so far I've hatched about 100 chicks and none have been their own. And I think pullets are better than hens cause pullets want to be moms where as older hens been around the block and it's no big deal to them. And living where I'm very prone to hurricanes I don't have to worry about power loss. I do have 3 incubators I use when the season starts but they get put up as soon as possible

 

[sdm111]

 

[sdm111]

 

[philyaw539]

i like broody hens because they know what to do and all you have to do is provide the food/water/shelter for them. They do an amazing job and an incubator can NOT beat a broody hen!