Incubator question

[jjchickmom]

My daughter wants to start incubating chicken eggs to sell the chicks for money. I would love recommendations for a moderately or low priced incubators that works well.

Thanks

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

That depends on how many chicks! You want

 

[jjchickmom]

20-50 chicks.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Then you could get the kids be I have it holds 41 eggs I think it's got an automatic egg turner and it's really nice I can send you a picture this afternoon when I get home of you want

 

[jjchickmom]

Then you could get the kids be I have it holds 41 eggs I think it's got an automatic egg turner and it's really nice I can send you a picture this afternoon when I get home of you want

Sounds great. We might hatch them or we might buy them as babies and raise them until they are 4 weeks-9 weeks. We figured it out and our daughter could make $150+ a month or $900-1000 over the summer after expenses raising 30 of them at a time February thru end of August. I told her after she sold them we would get back $ for buying chicks, feed and bedding. We might give her the first batch of chicks for good grades. Not bad for a teen. Then next year once she gets a summer job she can pass the raising to her tween sister.

We were thinking we could ask the small local feed shop if we could sell them there once a month or if they could refer people who ask about chicks to us(they could sell the care supplies) and on Craigslist.

 

[MillersFarm]

$900-$1000 sounds a little extreme for just selling chicks over the summer. Start out small, Don't over whelm yourself with all these hatches.. The main thing you want to do first is Find customers that will actually buy from you. Advertise it on craigslist if you must, Or in local feed stores. Ask around your local 4-H and see what breeds sell the best and if you know anyone who's looking to buy from you. And think of fair prices. How many chickens do you have and what breeds? Pure breds sell for more.. not mutts. You would need some nice breeding pens for each breed you plan on selling, The more variety of breeds you have the better chance you have for selling anything. Does your daughter already have a job and is saving up for supplies such as new breeds, Supplies for breeding pens, and feed/bedding? I'm very new to the breeding business myself and i'm working on my first batch. I worked 3 jobs over the summer to save up for an incubator, Feed, and money to buy new breeds with. Right now i'm incubating some call ducks, Mostly Khaki campbells, and some buff and Welsh harlequin ducks. I later plan on incubating Guineas, Chickens, Turkeys, And my Golden Pheasants. I already have buyers for the ducklings that hatch which is supper important, You don't want to hatch a whole bunch of eggs and end up having to keep them all since no one bought them. I'd also think of different ways to help you make money such as selling hatching eggs for eggs just for eating, Maybe raise your own meat birds. Heritage Turkeys and chickens here go for a lot.. I believe $4.50 a pound if it's heritage and pasture raised is the cheapest i've seen. and most of the time they're sold out.

 

[aliciaplus3]

I would guess that your location and what is available near you as well as how much demand there is would greatly influence how well this operation goes..... I guess I understood that you were planning to either hatch eggs that you bought or buy chicks and raise them up to a maybe point of lay? And then sell them. Is that right? If so depending on your area, and what breeds you plan on, it sounds like it could work. I do agree with finding as many customers as possible before you start.
Keep in mind that shipped eggs don't always have great hatch rates and most times you will end up with half roos when you hatch eggs.
I am actually doing a similar project this year, I have a customer that is interested in getting new girls this year but Hates keeping them in the house and dealing with the heat lamp, so I have hatched some and he will get his pick when they are abut 2 months old. I was looking for a few exteras for me anyway and the eggs came from my flock so no big expense there. The roosters will take a trip to freezer camp. Best of luck with your project!
Sorry just realized that your request was for an incubator recommendation.
I personally run 2 one is a cheap Chinese knock off and does ok, provided I babysit it and watch both temps and humidity with at least one extra thermometer/hygrometer and make adjustments as needed. It cost me less than $100 and holds 56 eggs. My second bator is a brinsea ovation 56 ex with humidity pump...... all I can say is wow! I love that it holds the temps rock solid and I don't have to babysit the humidity. The brinsea is a little pricey.
Have you checked out the incuview? There is a whole thread on it and quite a few folks like it.

 

[MillersFarm]

I would guess that your location and what is available near you as well as how much demand there is would greatly influence how well this operation goes..... I guess I understood that you were planning to either hatch eggs that you bought or buy chicks and raise them up to a maybe point of lay? And then sell them. Is that right? If so depending on your area, and what breeds you plan on, it sounds like it could work. I do agree with finding as many customers as possible before you start.
Keep in mind that shipped eggs don't always have great hatch rates and most times you will end up with half roos when you hatch eggs.
I am actually doing a similar project this year, I have a customer that is interested in getting new girls this year but Hates keeping them in the house and dealing with the heat lamp, so I have hatched some and he will get his pick when they are abut 2 months old. I was looking for a few exteras for me anyway and the eggs came from my flock so no big expense there. The roosters will take a trip to freezer camp. Best of luck with your project!
Sorry just realized that your request was for an incubator recommendation.
I personally run 2 one is a cheap Chinese knock off and does ok, provided I babysit it and watch both temps and humidity with at least one extra thermometer/hygrometer and make adjustments as needed. It cost me less than $100 and holds 56 eggs. My second bator is a brinsea ovation 56 ex with humidity pump...... all I can say is wow! I love that it holds the temps rock solid and I don't have to babysit the humidity. The brinsea is a little pricey.
Have you checked out the incuview? There is a whole thread on it and quite a few folks like it.

Having two incubators is a great Idea. That gives you more eggs to hatch and if something were to Happen with the one you'd still have a backup. I bought a cheap Chinese knock off as well for only $150 that holds 112 eggs. So far so good. Keeps steady temps and the display is correct. My friend has an extra incubator that isn't crap that we split our money on so if something were to happen with the one i'm currently using I can always use the other incubator.

 

[jjchickmom]

We were thinking about just doing bought chicks raised for a few weeks then selling them so she can make more than incubating eggs. We live near rural areas where lots of people have coops surrounded by wealthy areas that allow backyard chickens.We have the materials for raising chicks on hand. We would just have to buy chicks and feed at first.

We were thinking Barr Rock, Easter Eggers and maybe a few popular but rare breeds. We are debating a few Bantam. They would be cuddled and interacted with to make them more social.

 

[aliciaplus3]

sounds like you have done some research!