I read fast and furious on this site since I am not hatching eggs at this time. But someone asked recently what we do with all those eggs hatched.
I cant speak for the othere but my intent on hatching eggs is multifold:
1. Flock maintenance. I have a high predator load. even with best safe guards I loose three or four per year.
2. Breed sales. There are one or two breeds of chickens I want to raise up for sale.
3 Food. I want to raise a few meaties per year. or all purpose meat birds.
4 Guinea flock maintenance. My primary reason for an incubator. Guinea fowl are notorious for not laying in nests. OR becoming broody so the incubator will be a back up in case I don't have a broody hen to throw the eggs under.
I have a GQF 1588 and I have had success with it. the turner holds 42 chicken eggs and I been told you can almost double that by stacking eggs on top of eggs.
IF i build a cabinet incubator the 1588 will be turned into a hatcher, with a few modifications.
Guinea fowl have multiple uses for me. I can sell:
hatching eggs
Keets
Grown birds.
Feathers
Capes
and Meat.
I am sixty years old and when I can retire my income is going to be very limited. So my poultry will be a source of meat and eggs and hopefully enough income to pay for feed.
Oh and for a brooder as backup I am going to use a heating pad.
@Blooie has raised up chicks in the dead of winter out in the coop.
deb
I cant speak for the othere but my intent on hatching eggs is multifold:
1. Flock maintenance. I have a high predator load. even with best safe guards I loose three or four per year.
2. Breed sales. There are one or two breeds of chickens I want to raise up for sale.
3 Food. I want to raise a few meaties per year. or all purpose meat birds.
4 Guinea flock maintenance. My primary reason for an incubator. Guinea fowl are notorious for not laying in nests. OR becoming broody so the incubator will be a back up in case I don't have a broody hen to throw the eggs under.
I have a GQF 1588 and I have had success with it. the turner holds 42 chicken eggs and I been told you can almost double that by stacking eggs on top of eggs.
IF i build a cabinet incubator the 1588 will be turned into a hatcher, with a few modifications.
Guinea fowl have multiple uses for me. I can sell:
hatching eggs
Keets
Grown birds.
Feathers
Capes
and Meat.
I am sixty years old and when I can retire my income is going to be very limited. So my poultry will be a source of meat and eggs and hopefully enough income to pay for feed.
Oh and for a brooder as backup I am going to use a heating pad.
@Blooie has raised up chicks in the dead of winter out in the coop.
deb
for the baby. Keep us posted!
