Loan an incubator?

[BillMinor68]

So after months of talking it over with the wife and researching breeds, the wife and I are getting some Delaware eggs and starting our backyard coop from scratch. I've looked over a bunch of posts and gone back and forth between building an incubator and buying one. I've decided there are enough variables in the mix already and should probably start with something that works (or is at least more likely based on my mechanical ability). That being said, I don't know that I'd use an incubator after the first hatching (we've got a small-ish yard and plan to keep 4-6 hens and a roo). So, do folks lend out their incubators or do I just need to suck it up and buy one?

 

[MissDeb]

If your hanging on to a roo you might as well buy your incubator because this stuff is addiction! The plus side is you can rotate out your flock when they get to the age they aren't laying as much
anymore. Just hatch out their eggs and Walla! That incubator just paid for itself.
You'll be sitting at the kitchen table one morning, just looking into the eye of a fertile egg wondering...What if!

 

[TheRanch]

Post an ad/ Check ads in Craigs list. I know that there are some local folks here that will hatch others eggs for a fee or for a few free chicks. It's worth a try instead of spending $100+ for something you'll only use once. Good Luck

 

[raimnel]

Quote:
u in my area??
got like $20, I made one from an old cooler, check out my BYC page. It wasn't hard, I did have my DH and DDad help me with the wiring but really I could of done it (don't tell them that I made them feel like they were needed)

 

[abanjaf]

Where are you located? I wouldn't mind lending mine, my DH says I'm cut off from hatching anymore after 3 batches this spring! If not close by, I'm sure if you let us know where you are, other folks might be willing to share, too

 

[abanjaf]

By the way, I almost forgot! Welcome!!!

 

[BillMinor68]

Thanks for the offer; I'm in Austin, TX.

 

[abanjaf]

I'm in Central Florida, hoped you were closer

 

[ga_goat]

I just set some tonight 20 of mine and 8 for a girl down the road on ½'s ,, mine are just good laying muts hers are dark green americanas .

 

[Bettacreek]

Honestly, I'd buy the first one. I started out with a homemade incubator and had a temp spike that killed everything off just a few days before hatch. I then bought a cheap, used LG forced air and had ok hatches. I then spent $172 on a 1588 with the autoturner (universal AND quail racks) and demoted the LG to a hatcher. I NOW have both of them running as incubators and I'm debating on making another one. Moral of the story, spend your money on a good incubator if you're counting on it to hatch out your flock. Wait until you can get "free" eggs from your flock to start experimenting with a homemade one. Chances are, you'll end up wanting more than one incubator. As far as loaning out incubators, don't count on it. They're basically a one time investment (per incubator, you'll probably buy more than one, lol) and it's just not something that I'd ever want to lose by someone borrowing and not returning it. You might find someone who will hatch out eggs for you though.