Incubators Anonymous

[MarineCorpFarmr]

Flowerbh: Im in north east alabama in the "mountains" lol. Ill be hatching all winter long as well. Have a set of 82 that started hatching saturday and like 75 in my ultrabator. Any questions feel free to ask. Ill gladly help out.

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

We just got our sportsman 1502 it was used and had only been used one time(according to the owner) and it looks like it. We are so excited, now just need some good pure breed eggs to hatch. My chickens are just starting to lay good again, we had som illness and possum attacks over the summer and we lost several good breeders(mostly to possums) they seem to love the expensive birds. They must have not like my mixed breeds. Go figure a possum thats picky(actually killed 6 possums and about 20 babys).

 

[cadams]

only two out of forty eight hatched I think all my boys except one is firing blanks. my JG is doing his part at least.

 

[Flowerbh]

Here is what one book said about not incubating eggs in the winter:

1. According to The Dollar Hen, eggs tend to be most fertile in March through June. A secondary peak in fertility is between September thru October. Any other time usually results in a lower hatch rate.

2. In the authors experience, he found that breeds of chickens that produce brighter yolked eggs (meaning that the hens ate more nutritious bugs and greenery) have higher hatch rates. This means he had better hatch rates during peak grass-growing seasons, in the spring and again in the secondary pasture peak in Sept - November.

3. Keeping new chicks warm while allowing them outside time was much harder on the new chicks.

This last one is especially hard for me.....I just got some new chicks in Sept and Oct and it just seems too cold to let them run around for long.

Anyway, this is what the book said.....any comments?

 

[Overoberyl]

Not enough reason NOT to hatch imo

Sounds like it is based on the author's anecdotal experience rather than actual data. If you want to hatch and can brood them inside, go for it!! They will be just fine getting outside come spring.

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

Personally I harden off my chicks with my bantams since they have a heat lamp on them all winter. It also does bump the temp of the whole coop up a bit as well. As far as fertility I have averaged above 85% on nearly all my hatches, with this last hatch being a tad lower at about 75%. out of 82 i tossed 13 quitters. 5 i have left to see what happens. the other 64 hatched just fine. Ive got another 80 set in the incubator now.

 

[ImpulsiveFarmer]

I like having hens that start laying in the summer. this will be my second time hatching eggs in the winter. yes it's a pain keeping chick warm in the winter but for me it's worth it.

 

[Flowerbh]

Personally I harden off my chicks with my bantams since they have a heat lamp on them all winter. It also does bump the temp of the whole coop up a bit as well. As far as fertility I have averaged above 85% on nearly all my hatches, with this last hatch being a tad lower at about 75%. out of 82 i tossed 13 quitters. 5 i have left to see what happens. the other 64 hatched just fine. Ive got another 80 set in the incubator now.

What do you guys do with all those chicks!!!! And when I start hatching some, what do I do with all the roos?

 

[Overoberyl]

What do you guys do with all those chicks!!!! And when I start hatching some, what do I do with all the roos?

I live in FL so when they are feathered enough to withstand 60 degree temps I just put them outside in my grow-out tractors, lol. Roos get sold on craigslist but I will probably have to start having them processed to go in the freezer as well

 

[ImpulsiveFarmer]

Quote:
I only hatch a dozen or so at a time, at least that's what I used to do we moved and have a lot more property now which means more space for more chickens.

The extra roos end up as dinner (bantam and purebred roos I try to sell or at least re-home). If I hatch out more chickens than I want I sell the extra chicks on craigslist.