Incubators Anonymous

[crazypetlady]

I don't know if I'm really a candidate for IA yet, since I don't have chickens... or eggs... or even an incubator yet, but oh well. Getting ready to order some eggs and pick up an incubator, and should be getting started by the end of May. I can't wait!

That is how it starts then you are online at all hours looking for eggs.

 

[orumpoultry]

I need a bigger 'bator. I'm only able to hatch 80 at a time. Think I'm in trouble.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I don't know if I'm really a candidate for IA yet, since I don't have chickens... or eggs... or even an incubator yet, but oh well. Getting ready to order some eggs and pick up an incubator, and should be getting started by the end of May. I can't wait!

Welcome to BYC, and enjoy your chicken fever;-)

 

[ronott1]

I have been doing that for two months now. I am going to stop soon. Problem is I have been watching auctions again. Saw one today for 12+6 really nice Black Australorp eggs that went for $12.00. These were recommended on the Austalorp thread. I don't have room for 18 eggs. Also, Trader Joes in Davis sells fertile eggs and I keep thinking about them...

Ron

ok... i'm *almost* in trouble... maybe not almost. LOL

i've got 90 eggs between the 2 incubators and the hatcher, with some fbcm on the way, and bbs ameraucana and wellies from another couple swaps. i have 9 spaces open in the egg turners currently.

tho i guess i could put a turner in the hatcher once this hatch is done...

ding! think i found a solution!

 

[ronott1]

Tdub, it is great to hear you are able to sell chickens. I sold my first ones easily but then heard about some having trouble selling theirs. Do you only hatch your own eggs? With the sportsman have you considered offering a hatching service? If so, what do you charge. The Sportsman runs off of 220 and uses a lot of electricity, so would you have to have a minimum number to hatch?

I am thinking of offering to sell mine as strait day old chicks and let the customers watch them hatch via Ustream and a web cam. I don't know how much I can sell EO Basque Chicks for though. Also, here there is a market for non hatchery chicks. It appeals to some because it is seen as cruel and they like the local part. Me, I am fine with Hatchery chicks, but the folks that bought mine really liked that they were hatched locally and I feed them organic feed. Stress what is good and unique I guess.

Ron

Oh crap! I think I am in trouble. I just got done ordering a new Sportsman 1502. I just started incubating (with two LGs) in January. I have kept them both packed full (or more than full) since then. I have not been able to hatch chicks fast enough. They are selling like crazy. So I have been able to hatch out and sell enough to pay for more than half the cost of this new one, and hopefully it will pay for itself over the next 6 months. Even if it doesn't I am ok with that. The LGs were a good learning experience but they can be a headache as well. My flock is growing too because I keep a few out of every hatch. We grew from having 12 hens and 2 roos to now having 32 hens with 6 roos and 23 other chicks from my last hatch that I haven't listed for sale yet. Too many chickens is a great problem to have...until the wife starts complaining.

 

[ronott1]

You will need the Brinsea to win next years Mahroni's Fourth Annual Easter Hatch small batch best hatch rate

Ron

I need help and I can't gt it at home because my dh is an enabler. He just bought me a Leahy 624 and even though it is 70+ years the old redwood beauty fired right up and has been holding it's temp. Nothing can rattle this enormous beast it never waivers from it 's mission and it eats eggs like nobody's business. Luckily the last owner modified the top 2 trays to egg turners and 2 of the original trays are missing that still leaves 2 trays for eggs. Dh is building the missing 2 trays (for keeping the breeds straight at hatching only) yeah right I' ll fill those with eggs too. Ack I need help I can't stop hatching!!! I have 153 in the redwood but I still have eggs in one lg and one brinsa. I actually sold the other brinsa and lg. Now if I can bring myself to sell the other lg, when all the eggs I put in it tonight hatch and the eggs I'm going to put in saturday.

you notice I didn't say anything about selling the other brinsea, I think I'll keep it for "small" hatches.

 

[klj491]

I don't know if I'm really a candidate for IA yet, since I don't have chickens... or eggs... or even an incubator yet, but oh well. Getting ready to order some eggs and pick up an incubator, and should be getting started by the end of May. I can't wait!

Welcome to BYC, and enjoy your chicken fever;-)

Thanks. I've had chicken fever for a while now, but I'm only just now finally acting on it. Just placed an order for a dozen assorted eggs. Chicken math has already hit me. -.- I want 3 or 4 hens, so I ordered a dozen eggs, cause, you know, some of them won't make it an you have to assume that half of the ones you do will be Roos. But the incubator I'm goin I get holds 28... So maybe I'll buy a second dozen on here so I can make sure I at least get some laying breeds, since that's what I want them for anyways. The only problem is finding some that aren't too expensive. Hmmm.

 

[klj491]

You know, my husband is probably going to kill me. I don't think he thought I was serious when I told him I was getting chickens. But the dog doesn't use his doghouse and it would make a perfect coop... I just need to make a door for it, and build some nest boxes. I think it also says something that I'm on here at 2am instead of sleeping. Haha

 

[NancyWicker]

That is how it starts then you are online at all hours looking for eggs.

and then you accidently buy 75 when your Hovabator is only supposed to hold 50..

 

[Arielle]

You know, my husband is probably going to kill me. I don't think he thought I was serious when I told him I was getting chickens. But the dog doesn't use his doghouse and it would make a perfect coop... I just need to make a door for it, and build some nest boxes. I think it also says something that I'm on here at 2am instead of sleeping. Haha

It all starts with a dog house . . be careful . . .chicken math sill have you building something a bit bigger very soon!! I lost my grain shed to the chickens. Grain goes in the horse trailer now. Beware . . . .be prepared.