I drove over 50 miles to get eggs 8 days ago and guess what?????

[Bananas]

BroomFarm wrote:

At the risk of jacking this thread, I would like to ask a question:

With the process of hatching eggs in an incubator being so difficult and with widely varying success rates, why do people do it that way? Is it because you can hatch eggs at any time of the year, versus only late spring through early fall, with a broody hen? Are there other advantages to using an incubator, versus the "natural" way?

If this is a dumb question, I apologize...new to this chicken thing and never really considered hatching eggs, YET. smile

I had always hatched eggs with a broody until a few months ago I got an incubator and tried my first incubator hatch...and it is SO different! I guess with a broody, the hen is the mother, but with an incubator, I sort of feel like I am their mother. The chicks bond with me and seem less scared of me. Part of that might be that my broody hens all seemed to be skittish so they taught the chicks to run from me too.

Personally, I just find it more satisfying to hatch with an incubator. I don't mind if the hatch rate is a little lower (which is mostly because I am still learning at this point anyway- I feel confident that in time my hatch rates will improve to near-broody levels

)​

 

[Joplus]

I'm going to pick up my eggs from California, it's 8 hours away. I will get them Sunday morning (8/16) and stay overnight and drive home Monday. I am planning on packing them (3 dozen Maran eggs) in egg cartons in a cooler. Then I'll let sit at home Monday night and set Tuesday. Does that sound good. I've kept eggs cool in a cooler before. I put a frozen water bottle and a life jacket on top for insulation and shock absorption and the eggs at the top. I hope to not jostle them on the drive and not overheat. It's super hot here In AZ so room temp doesn't work. So long drives how's the hatch rate? Good as a short drive?

 

[WalnutHill]

If I have to travel rough roads, I secure my snugly packed eggs in the suspended cargo net in the trunk of my car. It works like a hammock and takes all the jarring out of the ride.