North Carolina

[dutchbunny83]

Okay...DH is really serious about getting an incubator, so I need an "idiot-proof" (or as close as you can get) incubator suggestion. We're not looking at doing more than 20 eggs at a time (really more like 12 or less). What would be your number 1 recommendation for those of you with incubating experience?!? I'm hoping to stay below $200 for one - plus egg turner or no? I appreciate all your suggestions!! I know I've asked before, but now he's SERIOUS and wants me to print off a few possibilities for him to look at! (Someone help...I think HE'S the addict!! LOL)

I bought the most basic Farm Innovations model, I think it was $45.
Then I added an automatic egg turner after the first few hatches, which I believe was around $40, I can't remember.
Both I ordered off of amazon because TSC was sold out at the time.
I only got the egg turner because I was going away for a weekend during incubation and the eggs needed to be rotated. Then I realized it was more convenient so keep using it, but you have to adjust temp for it and keep eggs away from motor for "hot spots".

I've had really good hatches with that and I didn't know aything when I started so I'd say it's pretty forgiving (haha or idiot proof).
I've used mail order ebay eggs for every hatch but one and my average hatch rate with them has been about 75% (lowest was 1 out 3 eggs highest was when I won 12 eggs, was sent 18, and 17 hatched that was my lav orps)

So IMHO you don't need a $200 incubator

This is mine and it's done great for me:
http://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovato...34&sr=8-3&keywords=farm+innovations+incubator

 

[wildriverswolf90]

Okay...DH is really serious about getting an incubator, so I need an "idiot-proof" (or as close as you can get) incubator suggestion.  We're not looking at doing more than 20 eggs at a time (really more like 12 or less).  What would be your number 1 recommendation for those of you with incubating experience?!?  I'm hoping to stay below $200 for one - plus egg turner or no?  I appreciate all your suggestions!!  I know I've asked before, but now he's SERIOUS and wants me to print off a few possibilities for him to look at!  (Someone help...I think HE'S the addict!!  LOL)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001UF8OSY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1378471873&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX110_SY165

Brinsea Eco Octagon 20. Holds 20-28 eggs. Super easy! All I did was warm it up, it factory preset. To 99.5. all I did was plug it in, watched the glass thermometer for a day to make sure temps held. Then I set 24 eggs tilted the whole batOr 3 Times a day. Then on day 18, filled both water troughs and waited for hatch, had a 80% hatch my first time, and before this bator I sucked, I got maybe a 30-50% hatch rate and tried 3. different bators before I got this one.

 

[BHep]

Okay...DH is really serious about getting an incubator, so I need an "idiot-proof" (or as close as you can get) incubator suggestion. We're not looking at doing more than 20 eggs at a time (really more like 12 or less). What would be your number 1 recommendation for those of you with incubating experience?!? I'm hoping to stay below $200 for one - plus egg turner or no? I appreciate all your suggestions!! I know I've asked before, but now he's SERIOUS and wants me to print off a few possibilities for him to look at! (Someone help...I think HE'S the addict!! LOL)

Genesis 1588 WITH turner. Holds 40+ eggs but is "idiot proof" IMO. Price is just under $200 shipped.
https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=77

 

[dutchbunny83]

Just saw some hatching eggs for sale-- Araucana rooster over Barred Rocks (also included is Araucana over Easter Egger, but I'm less interested in that).
I'm not usually one for mixed breeds, but I couldn't resist this one.
I can't wait to see what kinds of crazy creations come out.
Will they have tails? Will they have a single or pea comb? What color will the eggs be? I have so many questions I need to research some chicken genetics.

There are still 2 eggs that haven't pipped, but looked good in candling, so I'll give them a little while hopefully they start. But I think this hatch is over. Time to clean out the bator and load it back up

 

[Fireantz iceman]

Dutch, not selling right now ad i want to build a breeding stock and would rather make sure these do well before sale. I am trying wing sexing now

By mid spring or early summer I should have birds/eggs available.


Crossing fingers

 

[dutchbunny83]

Dutch, not selling right now ad i want to build a breeding stock and would rather make sure these do well before sale. I am trying wing sexing now

By mid spring or early summer I should have birds/eggs available.


Crossing fingers

Okay Good luck to you!
A few hatcheries sell sexed pullets, but it's so much more fun to hatch your own!

Anyone know anyone with cream legbar eggs?

 

[aurissavannahs]

Just saw some hatching eggs for sale-- Araucana rooster over Barred Rocks (also included is Araucana over Easter Egger, but I'm less interested in that).
I'm not usually one for mixed breeds, but I couldn't resist this one.
I can't wait to see what kinds of crazy creations come out.
Will they have tails? Will they have a single or pea comb? What color will the eggs be? I have so many questions I need to research some chicken genetics.

There are still 2 eggs that haven't pipped, but looked good in candling, so I'll give them a little while hopefully they start. But I think this hatch is over. Time to clean out the bator and load it back up

A lot of people call Easter Eggers Araucana . If the rooster is an Easter Egger than you can get anything however, if the rooster is a true Araucana and not white than the chicks will be black sex-links with pea combs and lay green eggs. Sounds like a fun hatch. Good hatching. Black sex-links will have barred roos and solid hens. When they hatch the roos will have white head spots.

 

[dutchbunny83]

Okay thanks.

The pictures he showed of his pens were true rumpless Aruacana roosters in with Barred Rocks. There were also Easter Eggers in a different pen, it's a mixed set of eggs, but I should be able tell them apart by egg color (and usually people pencil in the breed on them).
I mean he could just be putting pictures, but so far everyone I have gotten eggs from on ebay hatched how they were supposed to (I read a lot of feedback on sellers before buying).
Hopefully I will get a good variety out of them.
I really don't need anymore chickens, probably only keep 1, but I have an overwhelming urge to hatch I think have a problem....
Barred Rocks are my favorite and I love colored eggs so if I could get a BR personality with a blue egg I would be quite happy


Oh 1 of his 3 Araucanas were white, does that make a difference?

 

[rbaker0345]

Got my NPIP cert this morning. My chicken math was right on. I told them 75 adult birds and we ended up bleeding 76. Pretty close.

I was talking with the gentleman who came out to do the testing and he told me that in order to accomodate backyard chicken owners, they have changed the rules regarding Mg. Now, you no longer have to cull your whole flock, you just have to be under a quarantine for 45 days after the last sick bird either recovers or dies.

I asked him what they do if they get a positive for AI and he said that they send out the national guard.

 

[aurissavannahs]

Okay thanks.

The pictures he showed of his pens were true rumpless Aruacana roosters in with Barred Rocks. There were also Easter Eggers in a different pen, it's a mixed set of eggs, but I should be able tell them apart by egg color (and usually people pencil in the breed on them).
I mean he could just be putting pictures, but so far everyone I have gotten eggs from on ebay hatched how they were supposed to (I read a lot of feedback on sellers before buying).
Hopefully I will get a good variety out of them.
I really don't need anymore chickens, probably only keep 1, but I have an overwhelming urge to hatch I think have a problem....
Barred Rocks are my favorite and I love colored eggs so if I could get a BR personality with a blue egg I would be quite happy


Oh 1 of his 3 Araucanas were white, does that make a difference?

White masks the other color genes the chicken has so a white rooster could hiding any other color genetics so unless you know the white rooster's whole color background you can't predict the colors of his crossbred chicks. The white just introduces too many variable to do prediction on color. It won't make the chicks any less healthy or fun. Sounds like a nice cross. Enjoy your hatch.