NY chicken lover!!!!

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
Loved this reply...
My favorite place to be too..I will probably be out with them for most of the day ...even though it is hot .
My excuse is I have to weed / work on the garden ..
But secretly.. I just want to be out with the chickens ..

 

[BakerzDozen]

I am about to buy an Incubator to hatch eggs... (of course) I was wondering which brand you all would recommend for a beginner. I think to start small and move up if I enjoy the process. I am also doing this because I eventually want to get eggs of the breeds I desire. They don't have to be show quality but I would like to acquire hatching eggs from reputable breeders.

 

[mollybuck]

I am about to buy an Incubator to hatch eggs... (of course) I was wondering which brand you all would recommend for a beginner. I think to start small and move up if I enjoy the process. I am also doing this because I eventually want to get eggs of the breeds I desire. They don't have to be show quality but I would like to acquire hatching eggs from reputable breeders.

i did the same thing, and it was not a good idea, unless you mean small as in a brinsea. I used a foam one from TS, and had terrible luck. i couldnt afford an expensive one, so DH made me one out of a cooler. the thermostat was the most expensive thing at $20.. (i think) i had 100% my first hatch and 90% of my own eggs the last 2 hatches!

 

[rancher hicks]

I have a friend with an old 1602 N, still air, no turner and she says she did fine. Me it was a waste.

Next I bought a Genesis 1588 AND turner from Incubator Warehouse on the recommendation of Speckledhen and I've not regretted it.

So what's my point?

Whether you buy a Brinsea or Genesis 1588 or another type, take the advice from folks here. You can buy a still air and turner and spend $80-100. OR you can spend $200 or so and not waste time on trying to hatch eggs you may pay big bucks for.

IMO the time is a factor too. Watching and waiting and worrying about the temp,

and the humidity

and losing sleep. Plus your fingers get tired from being crossed 24/7.

Then there is the swearing when your Still Air doesn't hold the temp and you're like,

and

and then the eggs don't hatch and you're like

. Though some seem to do fine with a Still Air , I'm just not them.

I wish you well,

Rancher, been there done that, Hicks.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
i Think most people have the best luck with the brinsea ....expensive but reliable ..
MORE WILL PEEP UP !
my foam one has only hatched 2 eggs which were most of the time incubated by a hen ..

 

[Gramma Chick]

IMO the time is a factor too. Watching and waiting and worrying about the temp,

and the humidity

and losing sleep.

This is me ..it drives me nuts

 

[tao chick]

I have a friend with an old 1602 N, still air, no turner and she says she did fine.  Me it was a waste. 

Next I  bought a Genesis 1588 AND turner from Incubator Warehouse on the recommendation of Speckledhen and  I've not regretted it. 

So what's my point?

Whether you buy a Brinsea  or  Genesis 1588 or another type,  take the advice from folks here.  You can buy a still air and turner and spend $80-100. OR you can spend $200 or so and not waste time on trying to hatch eggs you may pay big bucks for.  

IMO the time is a factor too.  Watching and waiting and worrying about the temp,    and the humidity    and losing sleep.  Plus your fingers get tired from being crossed 24/7.  

Then there is the swearing when your Still Air doesn't hold the temp and you're like,     and      and then the eggs don't hatch and you're like   .   Though some seem to do fine with a Still Air , I'm just not them.  

I wish you well, 

Rancher, been there done that, Hicks. 

I don't care how good this hatch is (day 19 is taking forever!), the next time I pay for hatching eggs I will pay for a new incubator too for the reasons mentioned here. Too much of a headache. There's a better way. That said, I'm borrowing my Little Giant still air incubator and that is the right price for me. If you want to try incubating, borrow an incubator first if you can. Try the free method first. If it works for you, great. If not you'll have time to get more advice (I'm looking up the Genesis now.)

 

[marquisella]

Quote: Did I meet you ?
Yes ..she is debating whether or not to have it ...or not ..I think we were all a little rough on her ...
She paid the extra to host it ...and if she hosts another she can make up the rules
Chicken stock, traditionally, is a gathering of the people on byc from that area.

Its purpose is for bycers to meet, and exchange items or sell to each other. Have a get together that is friendly and where people get to meet each other.

People donate things for the auction, and the proceeds are supposed to offset any expenses that the host incurs.

The first time that Travis and wife hosted it, they generously donated the money to our local chicken club.

Food is free because people bring a dish to pass, not to sell.

No one profits from chickenstock.

There have been chickenstocks where it was a 2 day event, and people camped overnight if they wanted to or it was too far away for a one day even.

If someone wants to promote their business, then call it what it is.

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

We went camping this last weekend. I've been in the clean up process and back to work. We are just finishing a hatch. We have a hovabator with fan and turner from cutler supply. loaded 48 eggs: 42 made it to lock down, 3 pipped and died, 6 didn't hatch at all, the rest hatched. This batch was golden cuckoo marans, blue laced red Wyandotte, and olive eggers. Of the OE set only 1 didn't hatch. We've let all our pens loose since setting this hatch and won't separate again for hatching again until spring, but most still hang out in their own groups. I only have a pair of large fowl cochin separated that I have pure at the time being.

Pharm- Congrats on the new job!

 

[boskelli1571]

Loved this reply...
My favorite place to be too..I will probably be out with them for most of the day ...even though it is hot .
My excuse is I have to weed / work on the garden ..
But secretly.. I just want to be out with the chickens ..

Have you ever noticed how much weeding doesn't get done when you're with the chickens??

Anyway - while I'm here - I have tried natural worming which I don't think too well. So - is there such a thing as a wormer w/o the need to withdraw the eggs? My girls are very skinny, eating like pigs. What does everyone here use?