Incubators Anonymous

[gimmie birdies]

the dark egg is blue isbar/BCM

 

[Flowerbh]

the dark egg is blue isbar/BCM

Beautiful color!

 

[Faraday40]

the dark egg is blue isbar/BCM

Pretty bird & unique egg. Great combo.

 

[gimmie birdies]

My current situation, I have 11 (I don't know if they are all fertile yet) in incubator. 2 thermometers to check for cold spots. water dish is only size I use till lock down. penny from before 82' copper sterilizes water, eggs in cartons with bottom cut out, I will lay them out at lockdown.

 

[Flowerbh]

My current situation, I have 11 (I don't know if they are all fertile yet) in incubator. 2 thermometers to check for cold spots. water dish is only size I use till lock down. penny from before 82' copper sterilizes water, eggs in cartons with bottom cut out, I will lay them out at lockdown.

I keep my eggs in a turner until lockdown, THEN I put them in the cartons to hatch. I make sure all the lowest dips in the air sacs are facing me so I can take a quick look and see if they are pipping or not. Hatching them in the cartons prevent the other hatching chicks from playing soccer with the 'trying to hatch' eggs.

 

[Cornelius]

So I figure this would be a good place to ask this question given everyone's history. I am wanting to start incubating, but I don't know which one to buy. Any suggestions on a good incubator that won't break the bank?

Thanks!!

 

[gimmie birdies]

My eggs were not fertile- boo!

I just hatched 16 from other coops and hoped my roo was working. but he is a free loader.

 

[Faraday40]

So I figure this would be a good place to ask this question given everyone's history. I am wanting to start incubating, but I don't know which one to buy. Any suggestions on a good incubator that won't break the bank?

Thanks!!

Much of the answer depends on your goals. Will you be hatching 100-500 chicks per month, a few hatches a year, or just this once? Then of course there's the budget, which always plays a big part. Likewise when it comes to making a brooder. Big cardboard box, plastic tote, dog crate, or go all out & build something.

If you're just hatching once, you'd be surprised how many people have incubators. If you ask around you might be able to borrow one for free. (Ask a science teacher, home schooled families, preschools, 4H kids, fellow chicken owner, etc)

 

[Cornelius]

My goal is to have my own self sustaining flock where I don't have to buy chicks all the time. I would also probably sell some chicks locally to help offset the cost of my hobby. So a few clutches per year but nothing too extensive.

 

[Faraday40]

My goal is to have my own self sustaining flock where I don't have to buy chicks all the time. I would also probably sell some chicks locally to help offset the cost of my hobby. So a few clutches per year but nothing too extensive.

If it's 1-2 hatches a year, then the typical styrofoam ones work for most people. (like Hovabator or GQF) Some models have fans & turners to make it easier. The biggest drawback is that the temp of the room where the incubator sits must be climate controlled (have a constant temp) If it's near a window or door, it will affect the hatch. They're styrofoam, so need to be cleaned & stored more carefully. Our local Ag Bureau has an education office that loans out these type of incubators to teachers. I used them for years. Never got a 100% hatch, but never got a 0%. A lot of tweaking & careful monitoring needed, but I had several pairs of eyes watching for me throughout the school day. Those models were forced air (had fans), auto turners, & big viewing windows.

Once I had my own backyard chickens, I decided I wanted to build my own incubator. (Not very difficult because there are detailed instructions here on BYC & also Youtube videos.) I get a better hatch rate now (Sometimes 100%) & don't have to reserve an incubator months in advance. I then was given a very old still air incubator. I added a computer fan I got off a broken PC & now have a back up incubator!





If you have the $, I've been told Brinsea is an excellent brand. Quality product, easy to use, works well, stable temps / humidity, & lasts. People never seem to sell them, though.
The simplest way to incubate is via a broody hen. If you only want to add a few chicks per year, then the broody will not only give you a fantastic hatch rate (without worry of power loss, room temp, turning, humidity, etc). She'll also eliminate the need for a brooder. The chicks will be automatically part of the flock without all the transition & pecking order worries. The biggest downside is that you can only incubate as many eggs as she can fit under her & you must hatch on HER schedule, not yours. The other downside is that you don't get to witness the hatching process while it's happening. (It's very exciting & addictive to see those embryos grow & chicks hatch.) We have a bantam orpington who went broody 5xs this year. We allowed her to hatch & raise chicks 3 of those times. She's a comical little pet who is well loved.(not to mention very beautiful) Silkies are a breed especially known for going broody, but we've never had one in our flock.

Hope these ideas help. There's no right or wrong way, but many opinions.