Incudating OR NOT

[klein]

I live in east Ohio and was wondering in the summer months would i need to use a Incubator our could i get good results by let them do there own thing? Also do I need to pair them up by breed or will they only breed with their kind?

 

[Chick1043]

I live in east Ohio and was wondering in the summer months would i need to use a Incubator our could i get good results by let them do there own thing? Also do I need to pair them up by breed or will they only breed with their kind?

Letting the hens sit on the eggs? Any breed will take any chick if they hatched it, usually.

 

[klein]

Letting the hens sit on the eggs? Any breed will take any chick if they hatched it, usually.

 

[klein]

We are wanting to breed certain chickens but are trying to decide on incubation or letting chicken sit on them until they hatch. Not sure which is best for turn out of new chicks.

 

[klein]

so is it harder to have the hens do it them selfs

 

[instar8]

If you want the hens to do the work, you have to have a hen who is ALREADY broody, meaning she's already trying to hatch eggs by sitting on the nest ALL the time, only getting off briefly to eat and drink, and pecking to protect them. If you want specific breeds, you have to separate them, cause a rooster will jump on any hen he can catch. The hens can hold semen for a couple weeks, too, so they have to be segregated that long.

Chickens do a better job of hatching eggs than any incubator, but you need a good broody!

 

[instar8]

what kind of chickens do you have?

 

[Chick1043]

My broody hen hatched eggs just fine. If you want to incubate them, incubate them. If you want to let the hens hatch them, let the hens hatch them. They'll be fine either way! Although, I have noticed hatching chicks with hens the chicks are more scared of you. Hope this helps!

 

[klein]

what kind of chickens do you have?

 

[klein]

Bantams