Hatching vs purchasing chicks

[Shamo Hybrid]

It's more satisfying to incubate so I'd much rather take that route. You get to experience them from the very beginning and plus you have kids so it will definitely be something fun for them to witness the miracle of birth when those little boogers crack outta their shell.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

To follow up on @Acre4Me suggestion of building an incubator, the following thread has instructions on the first page - as well as just about anything else you would need to know about incubating.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-sunshine-hosts-bantychooks-and-more.1137467/

 

[rascal66]

So many good responses here. And one thing that I can definitely agree on, both can be addicting!!!!! Its so crazy fun, especially when you have the setup to get the birds bred and hatching out your own eggs.

If you can't decide on either... Why not both? Get yourself a few female chicks from either your local farm store or any reputable hatcheries, and try getting some eggs to incubate too.

You have to keep in mind with incubation, that there is always a chance you will get very low hatch rates for whatever reason. So there is some risk factor when incubating your eggs, but still definitely worth a try. Then if you ever get the opportunity, get yourself a rooster and start your own breeding!

 

[Smr]

I bought my first batch of RIR chicks 4 years ago. Raising them was a lot of fun but they were nervous and never really bonded with me.
Three years ago I started hatching my own chicks and the process was amazing. I learned so much, and will never tire of watching a chick pop out of the shell.
I also found that the chicks were relaxed and not fearful of me.
It would be a great experience for your whole family.
I get some of my eggs from friends that keep chickens and also from craigs list. Check the listing in your area for hatching eggs.

 

[JaeG]

Hatching is so much fun, especially with kids. Candling the eggs is amazing (that's my favourite part). It's nerve wracking waiting for them to hatch (be prepared to waste most of those final days hovering over the incubator waiting for something to happen), but so satisfying.

 

[TomZilla43]

Following with extreme interest.

 

[DobieLover]

I don't dare even think about incubating! I know I'd be hatching chicks left and right and I am already overwhelmed with projects and caretaking responsibilities to add one more thing to my plate.
I loved the "buying day old chicks route" because it allowed me to get all the breeds I wanted to try. I will ultimately have a flock of about 25-26 birds of comprised of 16 different breeds.
In subsequent springs, I will allow anyone who goes broody to hatch some eggs to replenish my pullets for the upcoming winter.
But if you don't want cockerels or roosters, you should most certainly just purchase sexed pullet chicks either on-line or from a local farm store. If you hatch, you will have to deal with the cockerels from that hatch.
Here is a small sampling of my flock.

 

[Fatherdowling]

Hey y’all.
I’m new to chickens, though my husband is not. He has incubated eggs as a child, as well as raising chickens. This will be a family activity, but primarily my “project”

I’m looking for opinions on hatching vs buying chicks. To get the breeds I’m really looking for, odds are I’ll have to order online. I’d love to incubate/hatch primarily for the kids to experience it. (They are 13 and a very well behaved 6) Any advice? I’m completely on woth you telling me I’m nuts for starting off with hatching and I should get chicks instead. But if I do hatch I have these questions:

Anyone have recommendations for where to order the eggs?
Taking into consideration the survival rate and the fact that I really don’t want roosters, how many of each breed (I want 2 different breeds) should I order if I’m aiming towards 3 females of each breed? (I’m flexible on that though)

I’m open to any other advice, and I’ll be pouring through the thread to see what I find

Thanks!

Oh, and I’m in SC if that makes a difference

Good morning from Oregon, I faced the same dilemma when I first started a couple weeks ago. I found going the route of buying chick's from a local farm store a better choice, for 2 reasons. First, if you want females they will sell pullets so you know you're getting females. Second, they sell multiple breeds, so you can can pick and choose what you want.

When I started I was able to get, Lavender Orpingtons, Silver laced Wyandotte's, an Isa brown, a Dominant copper, and 2 color pack.

Do what's best for you and your family, but just remember you can always hatch eggs once you know what your doing.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

We got into hatching last year for the first time. It was so much fun and we learned a lot. We'd had chickens for about 7 years at that point. Those were purchased from hatcheries or farm stores.

Source eggs as close to you as possible. I live in the West and won't order more than 1 state away. check out classifieds, homesteading, neighborhood and Facebook groups. All good possibilities for good quality eggs.

The biggest reason for this is because shipped eggs have a low hatch rate even with the best incubator and most knowledgeable Hatcher. Starting out usually you have cheap equipment and are very much learning as you go (temp, humidity, candling, turning, hatching). Adding in shipped eggs really creates too many variables for a successful or enjoyable hatch. Hatching is not for the faint of heart.

My kids 6,8 LOVE hatching. This year it's going to be my 8 year old daughter's side hustle. She's going to run the incubator on her own and can sell whatever she hatches. We have 2 breeding groups of Marans (one BCM, one BBS). I think she should be able to get at least $5-7 a chick straight run in our area.

I would not underestimate the excitement of getting "the call" and zipping off to the Post Office to pick up chicks! Then listening to their peeps and you drive home. Opening the box and meeting the chicks for the first time is priceless! You and the kids would love it!

Post an update with whatever you decide. Chickens are th best.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Reading your first post...

You got lots of good suggestions already!

I personally would buy chicks at THIS point over hatching JUST to not have to deal with roosters... and unhatched chicks... or only one hatched chick and still have to go to the feed store. More so for disease control.

With power outages and other issues... feed store or hatchery chicks have allowed the ability to try MANY breeds with zero stress or heart break when compared to hatching. Most feed stores have already absorbed the losses and failure to thrives. Dispatching a chick that hatched with splay leg or what have you... difficult to do.

If you do hatch... make a plan for your cockerels and why not allow it to include that the new homes they go to MIGHT let them grace their dinner table... a wonderful lesson about where our food comes from for young ones. Has made it so much easier for me to accept the circle of life and to know that ever day something dies for us to live.