First time using an incubator soon

[Hopeful homesteader]

A friend asked me to hatch some eggs for him, I have an incubator but haven't taken it out of the box yet because I normally just let my hens hatch chicks and since last year I only got 3 cockerels from hen hatching, I decided to give to incubator a run and see if I can get a decent number to hatch. He only wants 6 chickens to start off, he and my husband are in the process of building his coop and covering the yard so I have until April/May to get some chicks hatched so the following are my questions to get me setup for a successful hatch. Firstly, what supplies do you suggest I get in addition to the incubator? (Brands and/or links to supplies would be much appreciated) If he wants 6 chickens, how many should I incubate? My incubator can hold up to 200 eggs so any excess chicks I can keep for myself, I just don't want to over or under do it. My hens typically start laying again in February, can I start collecting eggs right away or is it better to wait a few weeks for quality issues? Any additional suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks everyone.

 

[Ridgerunner]

what supplies do you suggest I get in addition to the incubator?

What kind of incubator? Make and model could be useful. A link to a description could be very useful. For 200 eggs it is probably a cabinet model with a fan so a forced air, but I hate making assumptions.

Did it come with an automatic turner? For 200 eggs I'd hope so but, again, I don't like assumptions.

Did it come with instructions? If not, can you find instructions online and print them off?

I never trust the thermometer or hygrometer that come with any incubator unless they are calibrated. I'd either get a calibrated thermometer or get one and learn how to calibrate it. Same with a hygrometer.

I'd need to see good photos or read the instructions for much more. Of interest are how you add water and how you set it up for hatch.
Are you good for a brooder or do you need help?

If he wants 6 chickens, how many should I incubate? My incubator can hold up to 200 eggs so any excess chicks I can keep for myself, I just don't want to over or under do it.

What is the maximum number of chicks you'd be happy with if they all hatch? That's how many you set. Sometimes they all hatch, sometimes they don't, so plan for the best result.

My hens typically start laying again in February, can I start collecting eggs right away or is it better to wait a few weeks for quality issues?

If they were pullets laying their first eggs I'd say to wait a month because of quality issues. But it sounds like they are all mature hens. In theory their first eggs should be fine, no real quality issues. But they are probably not all going to start laying at the same time so I'd wait until I had a bit of a variety of different hens' eggs. No real reasons, I'd just feel better about it.

 

[Hopeful homesteader]

What kind of incubator? Make and model could be useful. A link to a description could be very useful. For 200 eggs it is probably a cabinet model with a fan so a forced air, but I hate making assumptions.

Did it come with an automatic turner? For 200 eggs I'd hope so but, again, I don't like assumptions.

Did it come with instructions? If not, can you find instructions online and print them off?

I never trust the thermometer or hygrometer that come with any incubator unless they are calibrated. I'd either get a calibrated thermometer or get one and learn how to calibrate it. Same with a hygrometer.

I'd need to see good photos or read the instructions for much more. Of interest are how you add water and how you set it up for hatch.
Are you good for a brooder or do you need help?


What is the maximum number of chicks you'd be happy with if they all hatch? That's how many you set. Sometimes they all hatch, sometimes they don't, so plan for the best result.


If they were pullets laying their first eggs I'd say to wait a month because of quality issues. But it sounds like they are all mature hens. In theory their first eggs should be fine, no real quality issues. But they are probably not all going to start laying at the same time so I'd wait until I had a bit of a variety of different hens' eggs. No real reasons, I'd just feel better about it.

It's a Hethya brand incubator, not a cabinet model, it has stackable boxes with automatic turners. Haven't pulled it out of the box yet so I'm not sure but I believe water is added through a small port in the side. Already have stuff for a brooder. And yes all hens are mature, just didn't know if they had any issues after the winter break that would require a wait before incubation, only heard it about pullets so wanted to double check that beforehand. What thermometer and hygrometer would you recommend? It does have them built into the lid but I don't know what ones are worth getting.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The largest stackable Hethya incubator I could find holds 120 eggs, not 200. I don't know if I found yours or not but I'll comment on the 120 egg incubator.

I am not familiar with this make or model at all. That's not unusual, there are a lot of new incubators hitting the market these days since backyard chickens are becoming so popular.

Frankly, I would not buy his incubator. From the cost, it is cheaply made. The reviews I found say it is cheaply made, doesn't work very well, and soon breaks down. Instructions are poor and you do not get online support from the manufacturer. Since it is still in the box and you have time before you need it I'd return it if you can.

The instructions say to spray the eggs several times a day. I've seen that for waterfowl eggs but not for chickens, quail, or such. That makes me wonder how well the humidity works or how well they know what they are doing. Brinsea, a well-respected but relatively expensive incubator manufacturer, specifically recommends to not spray the eggs. Any effect is temporary and you can spread bacteria if the sprayer or water are not sterile. Something out of the ordinary like that raises a red flag to me. I do not and would not spray the eggs.

I don't see how you control the humidity. Maybe there is some way you can adjust that through the controls. Some incubators can do that electronically. You only have one large water tank. One way of controlling humidity is through the surface area. If you have different tanks you can have water in some and have some dry. You don't have that ability.

It is totally clear which makes me wonder how good the insulation is. I'd use the foam box it is meant to set in.

To calibrate a thermometer I use one that is already calibrated (typically a medical thermometer) and directly compare them. Medical thermometers typically read very accurately in incubation temperature range. So assure that the medical thermometer is calibrated.

I don't have a specific recommendation of which thermometers to buy. Get one that reads to the tenth of a degree which means a digital. Some individual thermometers can be adjusted, some cannot. When you compare that to the medical thermometer and you get a difference either adjust it or see how much you have to add or subtract to get to the correct reading.

Sorry to be such a downer but I really do not like that incubator.

 

[redinator]

I'm new to all this, so forgive me it this question seems a bit offensive. Why would you choose to incubate if you have hens that will sit on eggs? I get that some hens are great layers, but won't brood eggs or have issues raising chicks and it might be required in some cases.
I just incubated my first, and hopefully only, batch of 12 eggs and ended up w only 5 chicks. From here on out I plan to let the hens hatch eggs and I'm wondering what other situations would require me to incubate?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm new to all this, so forgive me it this question seems a bit offensive. Why would you choose to incubate if you have hens that will sit on eggs?

Not in the least offensive. We all have different goals and reasons to have chickens. I use both an incubator and broody hens because that fits my goals.

You said "if" hens will hatch eggs. Many people don't have that but their answer is obvious.

One of my goals is to have chicken every Thursday and Saturday for supper. One chicken a week meets that requirement. I have limited freezer space so I cannot just fil it up at one time, I need to hatch and butcher throughout the year. So I use an incubator in February to hatch a bunch of chicks when hens are not broody. I'll start butchering those in June when I start running out of chicken in the freezer. When hens start going broody in the warm weather I'll let them hatch and raise chicks.

So one reason is that broody hens do not go broody at the right time. Or you might not get enough to go broody when you need them.

Some people are not set up to use a broody hen. Some have had bad experiences with broody hens and don't want to use one. A broody or especially multiple broody hens can take a lot of room.

I'm wondering what other situations would require me to incubate?

When you want to incubate eggs and don't have a broody to do it for you or maybe you want to hatch more eggs than a broody can handle.

 

[redinator]

Not in the least offensive. We all have different goals and reasons to have chickens. I use both an incubator and broody hens because that fits my goals.

You said "if" hens will hatch eggs. Many people don't have that but their answer is obvious.

One of my goals is to have chicken every Thursday and Saturday for supper. One chicken a week meets that requirement. I have limited freezer space so I cannot just fil it up at one time, I need to hatch and butcher throughout the year. So I use an incubator in February to hatch a bunch of chicks when hens are not broody. I'll start butchering those in June when I start running out of chicken in the freezer. When hens start going broody in the warm weather I'll let them hatch and raise chicks.

So one reason is that broody hens do not go broody at the right time. Or you might not get enough to go broody when you need them.

Some people are not set up to use a broody hen. Some have had bad experiences with broody hens and don't want to use one. A broody or especially multiple broody hens can take a lot of room.


When you want to incubate eggs and don't have a broody to do it for you or maybe you want to hatch more eggs than a broody can handle.

Thanks for the detailed response. I'm only planning to use my chickens for eggs at the moment and hadn't considered the need for more chickens as meat. I have a friend that is willing to do the butchering when the time comes in exchange for fresh eggs. He's setup with goats and has a good garden going so he'll also appreciate the compost from the chickens.