North Carolina

[paintedChix]

I want to get an incubator and try hatching! Any advice on a beginner incubator? Anyone?

I'm watching the advice, too - though I'd rather have my birds do the incubating...

 

[bobhoke]

Hatch day!

 

[scottcaddy]

I want to get an incubator and try hatching! Any advice on a beginner incubator? Anyone?

Try reading this, https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101
Hope this helps.
Scott

 

[StarMeKritten]

Hatch day!e :cd

Cute chicks, Bob! Love those fluffy cheeks! It's a safe bet that the yellow ones are Easter eggers. Is the one in the 3rd photo blue (gray), or is that just the lighting?

 

[lularat]

Awww, such cute chicks....went to Tractor Supply yesterday and they had their chicks in. Wish I could get some more, but I don't have the space.

 

[bobhoke]

The third photo is kinda gray / purplish / brown...neat color but I really don't know. Call me blind. The silver ones dried more and they are yellow white with black dots. The last broody hen has two more to go. The first set of broody hens were attacking these hen's chicks....something else I'm gonna have to figure out. Please advise...I removed the bully hens. They went into the hens nest out of their way to peck their heads. Brutal.

 

[nantahala]

Does anyone in western NC or GA

have jubilee orp. eggs for sale to hatch? Thanks

FYI there is a breeder south of Asheville that has Jubilee Orp eggs in case you can't find any out your way.

 

[nantahala]

I want to get an incubator and try hatching! Any advice on a beginner incubator? Anyone?

If you want an incubator for a small number of eggs to see how things go and be able to handle the resulting chicks, the Brinsea Mini Advance is very good. It is relatively expensive, but that is worth it to be able figure out what is going on with incubating/hatching and not get overloaded with worrying about turning eggs, temp, humidity, etc (or having the time to do that). It hold 7 eggs and is basically a 'read the manual, adjust settings if you want, put some water in it, and watch them hatch' type of deal. And if you want to get a bigger incubator later, there shouldn't be any problem selling it.

 

[nantahala]

Also to add, there is a breeder in WNC that rents a Mini Advance so that people can hatch their own small flock, or try hatching to see if they like it (or for classrooms, etc.). There might be somebody around your area that would rent out an incubator if you think you would just be hatching a couple of times.

 

[StarMeKritten]

The third photo is kinda gray / purplish / brown...neat color but I really don't know. Call me blind. The silver ones dried more and they are yellow white with black dots. The last broody hen has two more to go. The first set of broody hens were attacking these hen's chicks....something else I'm gonna have to figure out. Please advise...I removed the bully hens. They went into the hens nest out of their way to peck their heads. Brutal.

The third photo is kinda gray / purplish / brown...neat color but I really don't know. Call me blind. The silver ones dried more and they are yellow white with black dots. The last broody hen has two more to go. The first set of broody hens were attacking these hen's chicks....something else I'm gonna have to figure out. Please advise...I removed the bully hens. They went into the hens nest out of their way to peck their heads. Brutal.

Yikes! Best to rig up a way to keep the new moms separate for the first few days at least. Once they are up and off the nests with the chicks, you may have better luck. Hopefully the new moms will sort things out with the other hens once they fully snap out of their broods. I've never had that many hens brood together. That may change in spring though!

That blueish chick might be an Easter egger mixed with australorp. A few of my buff EEs carry blue. I would guess that one will end up blue with some gold mixed in. Time will tell.