INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Too Fast]

I looked at hatching eggs when I got interested in getting chickens, but the hatching eggs were about the same price as live chicks.

By the time I added the cost of the incubator, hatch rates, prospect of shipping damage, and all the things that can go wrong, I couldn't make any sense of it. So I bought (too many) chicks.

Can someone explain to me why they hatch eggs rather than buy day-old chicks? Other than the obvious "Just Like Doing It"?

John

Wow you are up earlier than I am today. Aren't you retired? My dad says he can't sleep in, in the morning. I tell him that if he wouldn't go to bed at 7, he'd be able to sleep in better. 7 plus 8 hours sleep equals 3 AM.

Anyway, they hatch the eggs so the baby chicks can have tinfoil on their heads from day one. No moonbeams in their little heads.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Can someone explain to me why they hatch eggs rather than buy day-old chicks?  Other than the obvious "Just Like Doing It"?

The most obvious reason to me is that there are some breeds you just can't buy live, or at least they are very hard to find live. Many breeders prefer not to ship live chicks, and usually they would be straight run anyway if you did buy live chicks from a breeder. Honestly, I think I would rather open a box to find broken eggs than I would like to open a box and find dead chicks.

That's my thought on it, anyway. In spite of my username, I really don't hatch that many chicks, so maybe someone that does has other reasons.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I looked at hatching eggs when I got interested in getting chickens, but the hatching eggs were about the same price as live chicks.

By the time I added the cost of the incubator, hatch rates, prospect of shipping damage, and all the things that can go wrong, I couldn't make any sense of it. So I bought (too many) chicks.

Can someone explain to me why they hatch eggs rather than buy day-old chicks? Other than the obvious "Just Like Doing It"?

John

Some breeders are not as big time as hatcheries. So instead of shipping day old chicks they ship older chicks (postage is a real fortune) or eggs. Other breeders just won't ship chicks. I got sumatra eggs because chicks were not an option for the breeder I wanted to do business with. The ducks I have in my bator now, eggs were also the only affordable option as hatcheries had min orders and high shipping. I could not find any local to me even when the ducks were at TSC. They only had perkin ducks.

Shipping is hard on the chicks. I have had great results and horrible results with shipped chicks. One set I got in the mail just up and decided they did not want to drink any water. I was forcing feeding them water for days. Then once they were about 6 weeks many of them decided to pile at night and that had bad results too. I blame the not drinking water good for causing them to behave in a self destructive manner. I'm thinking USPS must have handled that box really poorly.
I agree with the other poster about finding cracked or broken eggs instead of dead chicks.

Then as I have an incubator to hatch future chicks from, I don't count it an extra expense. More like a supply I'll need so that eventually I will not need to order more chicks as I can hatch my own. This is only good if you have a rooster and want chicks from the same breed you have. And Chicks seem to sell well of craigslist. I have almost sold enough chicks to pay for my incubator.

 

[bradselig]

I looked at hatching eggs when I got interested in getting chickens, but the hatching eggs were about the same price as live chicks.

By the time I added the cost of the incubator, hatch rates, prospect of shipping damage, and all the things that can go wrong, I couldn't make any sense of it.  So I bought (too many) chicks.

Can someone explain to me why they hatch eggs rather than buy day-old chicks?  Other than the obvious "Just Like Doing It"?

John

It definitely depends on the breeds you're wanting. It is not worth it to buy Cornish cross eggs or sex link eggs. You can typically buy chicks from hatcheries cheaper. However when you're dealing with breeds where pullets cost $40 a piece and you can get a dozen eggs for $60 shipped, ill take my chance with the eggs.

 

[EmSteele]

A black panther sighting near Williams! ?!?! I live VERY close to there! I knew of MT. lions and some cougar sightings. A lady found a bear living behind her house last summer right up the road from me. She called animal control and the local police but was told they would not remove it because it is endangered in this area! Needless to day, she is moving her kids away from there as fast as she can!

 

[Indiana Dave]

I've recently had eggs shipped from a state or two away (tolbunt from Michigan, and leg bars from Wisconsin) and both arrived intact. Just candled and all 7 legbar are developing and 8 or the 9 tolbunt are developing. I've had the best luck having eggs shipped no more than 2 states away. I've ordered from papa brooder a couple times and haven't had gret success. He dd a great job packing, but I think the distance and USPS did them in. What breeds are you looking for?

Rhodebars and Crested Cream Legbars. I know you've had some by what I've read on here. But wasn't sure if you had hatching eggs available for them yet....

 

[Indiana Dave]

I've recently had eggs shipped from a state or two away (tolbunt from Michigan, and leg bars from Wisconsin) and both arrived intact. Just candled and all 7 legbar are developing and 8 or the 9 tolbunt are developing. I've had the best luck having eggs shipped no more than 2 states away. I've ordered from papa brooder a couple times and haven't had gret success. He dd a great job packing, but I think the distance and USPS did them in. What breeds are you looking for?

I would much rather buy the eggs local (Indiana) or from a nearby state. Too much can happen when they are in transit with the USPS for very long. But when you can't find what you're looking for close by, you are kinda out of luck. Where in Wisconsin did you get your legbar eggs? If you don't mind posting, how reasonable were they with shipping?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Here one for you. I like hatching so I sell the extra chicks on Craigslist very cheap too compared to the other listings. Well today I get a call asking for chicks that will lay eggs. I nicely explain that production reds lay about 5 eggs a week but that I do no sell sexed chicks as I do not have that skill. Then they get all upset saying that I should not be allowed to sell a boy chick, I should give those away for free. Then they went on to say if I thought half of the chicks were boys I should only get paid for half of the chicks they picked out. Needless to say, but they are not picking up chicks today.
Right now I'm asking $3 or 2 / $5 for chick, but most of the other chicks in the area are $4 or higher and they are not sexed either. I suppose I could raise my prices and then put in a half off for straight run and only offer straight run. Seems silly though.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: Not brad, but have you cheeked out the breed thread yet. There might be a small time farm closer than you think.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/459044/the-legbar-thread/4670

 

[vickichicki]

So I am saddened to hear about the wild cat being shot. I am a huge cat lover, domesticated and wild. While Deep inside I would love to own one, I know they are wild and it would be silly to think owning one would ever be a good idea. I shall marvel them from afar for their beauty.

On the wild animal line of things. My husband was sent to a retention pond just north of the city on Monday to find a reported alligator on the loose. when we got there, there were about 10 people lining the edge all in search of some lake placid style croc hunting. After a couple of hours with some flashlights and some lengthy walking we did not see anything. DH told the security be would be back in the morning. He had come after dark to avoid people and causing a scene. Was not expecting to see anyone there except the security guard.
Tuesday morning. He arrives to the location... More that 50 people now there, DNR, news crews and another private animal control contractor. After a lengthy discussion with DNR and the private contractor. He ended up leaving frustrated without getting the alligator. DNR can not kill the animal, only a private contractor can. THe other guy said he was going to have to rescue the alligator and euthanize it on site. DH point out with all the news crews out there, enjoy the public relations nightmare on at deal and left.

They did not find the alligator. It even made the news (google alligator, Indianapolis). He got a phone all after yesterday's hoohaw. Can you come and deal with it, quietly and without spectators. So whether there is an alligator or not.. Because someone made it public, it is now going to be a nightmare.