First time hatching

[jessecakephart]

I am very interested in hatching my own chicks but I'm very nervous about it. Is it something you would suggest doing or should I wait and just purchase chicks after they are born?
Thanks

 

[Hope Hughes]

I have hatched them, chickens hatch them and bought them. All are awesome and thrilling..incubating them is awesome but nurve racking at the same time. It's all on you when you do it that way. As i type i have 100 quail eggs incubating. You lose some... some are not fertile and some done make it through the hatching part. But it's amazing when they do and you helped them in that prosses... go to the forum section about incubation and read up on some of it.. it may help with your choice.

 

[venymae]

Incubating is so much fun, but takes time, learning, and an investment ($$) in good equipment. I second the opinion to read up on it and see if it's something you want to do.

 

[AlleysChicks]

Hatching your own can be fun and the joy you feel holding a chick that you hatched is irreplaceable. I actually prefer to hatch vs buy chicks. The downfall is having to wait to find out genders after they hatch. Read as much as you can before you put eggs in the incubator. And ask questions. There is always someone here that will help.

 

[Urchickchic]

I just hatched my first clutch of 7 in a janoel incubator. We had two hens and a Roo and collected eggs over five days. I was stunned when they all hatched within a 36 hour period — day 20-22. 100% hatch rate and had no idea what I was doing. Read a lot. I candled them on day 8,15, and 18 at lockdown. I worried like crazy about humidity and temperature and had multiple thermostats, humidity monitors. They are 3-4 days old now, very happy and thriving! So read a lot, ask questions, soak up information and give it a try! I’m addicted