Incubators Anonymous

[DMRippy]

Does this happen to anyone else? When you pull chicks and empty egg shells out of the bator, there are more chicks than shells?

No, but I have tossed egg shells before I knew what was in the hatching basket.

 

[Arielle]

Hello my name is Heather and I plan to be a future addict...lol

I was wondering if anyone has tried anything like this....

https://www.lehmans.com/p-1273-kerosene-powered-chicken-egg-incubator.aspx

I live off the grid and I'm looking for a way to incubate and not to put a drain on the household battery bank.

Thanks for any help...

I"m sorry I don't have any experience with that incubator. However my suggestion is In vest in a broody when you can. Good broodies are good hatchers and good mommas. Have you thought about how to brood the chicks after they hatch??? That is a drain too.

Good luck-- keep us updated!!

 

[Arielle]

Does this happen to anyone else? When you pull chicks and empty egg shells out of the bator, there are more chicks than shells?

ROFL---do tell use the majic of that!!

Actually I have given up trying to match all the hatchd peices--- it is a 3D puzzle.

 

[Heatherschix]

I"m sorry I don't have any experience with that incubator. However my suggestion is In vest in a broody when you can. Good broodies are good hatchers and good mommas. Have you thought about how to brood the chicks after they hatch??? That is a drain too.

Good luck-- keep us updated!!

Nothin beats a good mum

I have been using a eco glow to keep the new ones warm. It's very low wattage...I love it. I think I may try to build one of those kero incubators...I love a challenge.

 

[ocap]

Nothin beats a good mum

I have been using a eco glow to keep the new ones warm. It's very low wattage...I love it. I think I may try to build one of those kero incubators...I love a challenge.

I ended up with eight broody hens this spring, five of them are still on the nest, I needed to put the roosters back with the hens and start collecting eggs again because my incubator was turned off for the year, now I am needing to build more pens.

 

[Tuhmu]

I've had two broody hens this year and they honestly left a bad taste in my mouth. My first one was excellent, always came back to her nest etc. loved her babies but my other hens attacked and killed two of them....even though the chicks were 3 weeks old (my fault mostly, went in the house for no more than 5 min). They were free range so it wasn't like they were cramped up and they have been in a "look but not touch pen inside the adult flocks hen house for their whole life, so idk what the deal was there.

My 2nd one wouldn't go back to her same nest and wouldn't cover all the eggs (she's a full grown cochin and she had 8 silkie eggs) even though they were all developing, and then when they started to hatch she killed the first one (quickly took the rest and put them in the hatcher when I saw that).

I think if I let any in the future hatch, I'm going to have to have my own little broody pen/space and keep them in this "broody house", lol, till the hen wants doesn't want them anymore. Seems like just going through the integration process when they are older is the less painful route with my flock. My four April babies were accepted almost instantly but they were also "see but not touch" for a month at least.

 

[sonderah]

So I just did my 1st "dry hatch", but many of the eggs I had set were kind of old and some shipped, so we won't count the 18 of 45. Lol However I also have some turkey eggs going into the hatcher tomorrow. I candled today, day 24.

I don't weigh and all that, I'm lucky to keep up with turning and what goes into the hatcher when. Lol I've decided I'm just gonna go by looks for now and try that. That air cell looks about right for lockdown right??

 

[Heatherschix]

I ended up with eight broody hens this spring, five of them are still on the nest, I needed to put the roosters back with the hens and start collecting eggs again because my incubator was turned off for the year, now I am needing to build more pens.

Do you always let your hens be broody or do you have to break them of that sometimes? I've read that they may continue on to their demise.

 

[ocap]

Do you always let your hens be broody or do you have to break them of that sometimes? I've read that they may continue on to their demise.

here is a broody thread that has more experienced BYC members

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/496101/broody-hen-thread/5130#post_13665969

 

[user213590]

Wow

I"m sorry I don't have any experience with that incubator. However my suggestion is In vest in a broody when you can.  Good broodies are good hatchers and good mommas. Have you thought about how to brood the chicks after they hatch??? That is a drain too. 

Good luck-- keep us updated!! 

that is something else isnt it?. Pricey too for what it is bc it uses copper tubing and is a low powered stil or something maybe worth it but I would think if your already off the grid (my dream) you might want to build something yourself. Copper tubing from the plumbing area of Lowe's wrapped around the canner then maybe an old canner to put a few drops of water in the bottom and the eggs in the liner. Set it over a wire basket that used to go inside for the jars and have a keroscene lamp running on its lowest yourself. I am just thinking that the money is the airfare & elite chicks. I would think that but Someone else might want to spend $400. On an incubator with just a few eggs to hatch at a time, but I do not think Inside the box. I have always been told I think outside the box. Might be the ole' art glass professor in me still but that is just my way of thinking.

Come on, your already off the grid. Give it a try, build it yourself, you can come up with something.