IA (incubators anonymous) September Hatches?

[Jules929]

Oh I have never used shipped eggs and probably wouldnt unless it was something I really wanted which was impossible to source locally, due to the low hatch rates i read about.

I hear ya! I guess I see it as a challenge (or I am a glutton for punishment ).

 

[RollTideChicken]

Hatching eggs offer a more cost effective way to get breeds that would otherwise be a little out of reach. For instance: if I get a 50% hatch out of my shipped eggs I will have paid about $4.50/chick. Had I ordered these chicks they'd cost me about $30/pullet, $20/cockerel.
I'm the only person (that I know of) with Bielefelders in my area and I can't find anyone selling them closer than 6 hours away, so hatching eggs are a good option for me, even with the low hatch rate.

 

[Jules929]

Hatching eggs offer a more cost effective way to get breeds that would otherwise be a little out of reach. For instance: if I get a 50% hatch out of my shipped eggs I will have paid about $4.50/chick. Had I ordered these chicks they'd cost me about $30/pullet, $20/cockerel.
I'm the only person (that I know of) with Bielefelders in my area and I can't find anyone selling them closer than 6 hours away, so hatching eggs are a good option for me, even with the low hatch rate.

Agreed! In my case, I want a variety of egg colors and chicken types/breeds. I am a hobby-ist, so pedigree isn't critical. And I really enjoy the excitement of incubating! So I ordered a mix of hatching eggs. Hoping I will get a better hatch rate this time!

 

[Dharmachick]

I use shipped eggs a lot. If I'm ordering from eBay, I order twice the amount I want to hatch, and usually end up 50 to 60%. I let them sit for 12 hours before incubating, but this last hatch it was so hot, that the broody had a 50% hatch and the incubator had an 80% hatch. I never order eggs more than 1,000 miles away, except from Meyer Hatchery, and I've had 80 to 100% hatch rates when I order from them, even though it's about 2,000 miles. Imagine my surprise when I ordered 16 Brahma eggs from Meyers, and 14 hatched! I only wanted 8. Don't count your chickens before they hatch works both ways!

 

[Jules929]

@Dharmachick those are good numbers!
Once my coop and runs are completed, I will be able to comfortably house 20 LF. I currently have 11 bullets brooding and the 14 eggs incubating. Even with a 100% hatch, I will still have plenty of time before they get big enough to cause any potential crowding issues to decide which ones to rehome.

 

[Jules929]

My next critical decision will be "to Roo or not, " Lol. I am allowed where I live, but I don't want to upset any neighbors!

 

[9SpiceyChickens]

How about asking your neighbors? If you are allowed to , I would ask them and get a rooster or not get a rooster, depending on what they say.

 

[Jules929]

I did discuss it with my immediate neighbor who will be most affected. She is fine with it, as she has chickens, too. She had already gotten rid of her roosters before I moved in because a couple of the self-appointed "governors" of the neighborhood were causing problems. I am putting up a privacy fence to create a buffer, so hopefully my hobby will be out of sight, out of mind.

 

[9SpiceyChickens]

YAY!! I love roosters and their antics. Maybe you´ll be have some little chickies soon!!

 

[ChickensAndYoga]

I was in the august hatch-a-long. Tried twice and lost both clutches to bad storms and overnight outtages. Ended up putting the sire rooster down for progressive aggression as he got older. So I think I dodged a bullet anyway. I have a hatch of Bantam game rooster/leghorn hen cross and 3 farm mix eggs. (6 of the banty/LH). On day 13 and 10. Doing amazing. So... Im in. Lol