Hatching vs Buying ???

[waterguy81]

Hello,
I have RIRs and am thinking of setting aside some hens and rooster for actually hatching so that I don't have to order new chicks each year. The rhode Island Reds are dual purpose so I will use some for eggs and some for meat, but if I don't let them reproduce then I will run out of meat birds ha ha.
So, is it really worth hatching them and raising them yourself or is buying them better ?

It would be nice to hatch them so I could sell eggs and chicks. I see in Louisiana and Texas area hatcheries are backing up orders for chicks as long as 2 months.

How much more money are we talking about to go ahead and hatch them as to buying them ?

Thanks for the advice in advance.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

f you only have one breed so you don't have to separate an make breeding pens its pretty cheep. The cost of buying or building the incubator is the only real cost. Probably around $5 for every time you hatch chicks in power cost.

Expect about $100-$200 for a incubator you will be happy with for an off the shelf one.

 

[Illia]

Honestly with Rhode Island Reds, at least, the 90% population of them out there that are "Production Reds" (not actually dual purpose, as they've been bred solely for production for decades) I'd say it wouldn't hurt to buy new ones each time. Course, I prefer hatching my own, but Reds are so common and cheap there's not that much difference. People often sell chicks for about $1 each.


If you truly want a dual purpose breed though, make sure the reds you get are heritage types. Those are the real stuff.

They should be larger, dark, almost blackening red in color, brick shaped, and meaty. They're not common, but there are a few breeders of them out there. Those are the true dual purpose types. . . Also, they're far more likely to go broody, so you don't have to spend $$ on an incubator.

 

[Oregon Blues]

There is some satisfaction in hatching your own. Plus the chicks don't have to face the dangerous obstacle course of the postal workers and possible bad weather.

 

[supercraftymama]

Hi,

I am from South La too and trying to get started, maybe with just a few. Where did you get your chickens from? I went to a locally run feed store today and the chicks looked sick and they didn't have any RIRs. I'm willing to drive even a few hours to get some quality chicks.

 

[carolinagirl58]

Check with your local departement of Agriculture and see if they have a Market Bulletin farm paper. Most states have them. You can locate local breeders of your chosen variety that way.