Incubating Momma

[josh1505]

I'm sure there are many stories similar to mine (I'm a beginner): I got a few hens as a hobby/pets for the kids. The chickens have adapted well, I'm trying to learn as much as possible, enjoying the great tasting eggs, and the kids LOVE to retrieve eggs. However recently, I found out one of my hens is a roo. I initially didn't want a roo, for fear of chicks. Now that I have one... i'm interested in having chicks

So my question is: I see many posts about incubators... Should I not let nature take it's course and allow the hen to hatch the eggs? Why use the incubators? Is it for the sake of ease or efficiency? Will I experience and problems by using momma to do the work?

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

I personally like letting the hen do all the work. I've never used an incubator, but both out Buff Orpington hen and our silkie hen have raised chicks without any problems (the silkie hatched her own, the Buff Orpington got mail-order babies). The main thing is to make sure that the other chickens can't get to them. I use a big dog kennel that seems to work well.
Good luck!

 

[Kittymomma]

Broody hens are great, but unpredictable. Some breeds are more likely to go broody then others, so depending on what you have you may or may not ever have one go broody. Also, an incubator can handle many more eggs then a hen so that can be a consideration--Along with the fact that you plug the bator in and you're good to go where with a broody you have to wait until she's ready.

 

[WriterofWords]

I wouldn't put mom in the incubator, just the eggs.