Official BYC Poll: Why Do You Incubate/Hatch at Home?

[BYC Project Manager]

Hatching chickens can be a fun and educational experience for the entire family. How cool is it to watch a small egg turn into a tiny life! And of course, when these chicks grow up, your understanding of chickens and their life cycle can be quite rewarding, something you will never forget.

Everyone has their reasons, but we would like to find out: Why Do You Incubate/Hatch at Home?

Place your vote above (top 3 reasons), and please elaborate in a reply below if you chose "Other".

Further Reading:

• A Simple Guide To Hatching Chicken Eggs
• The Beginner's Guide to Incubation
• How To Incubate and Hatch Chicken Eggs
• Guide to Assisted Hatching for All Poultry

(Check out more exciting Official BYC Polls HERE!)

 

[DobieLover]

I hatch because they beat me into submission...

I like to keep my flock as naturally as I can. I much prefer to let the broodies hatch and have many mixed breed hens in the flock now. The last two times I introduced new breeds into the flock by buying hatching eggs.
It's a nice way to introduce new genetics into my very mixed flock.
I have to do nothing more than manage the broody while she is incubating and she does the rest of the work for me. I don't have to integrate chicks. They are accepted into the flock.
I do not keep my flock for breeding purposes (obviously). I keep them for stress relief, entertainment and the fresh eggs.

 

[calboy147]

Hatching chickens can be a fun and educational experience for the entire family. How cool is it to watch a small egg turn into a tiny life! And of course, when these chicks grow up, your understanding of chickens and their life cycle can be quite rewarding, something you will never forget.

Everyone has their reasons, but we would like to find out: Why Do You Incubate/Hatch at Home?

Place your vote above (top 3 reasons), and please elaborate in a reply below if you chose "Other".

View attachment 2843398

Further Reading:

• A Simple Guide To Hatching Chicken Eggs
• The Beginner's Guide to Incubation
• How To Incubate and Hatch Chicken Eggs
• Guide to Assisted Hatching for All Poultry

(Check out more exciting Official BYC Polls HERE!)

I "used" to incubate. Primarily because my wife will not let me cull my herd naturally, or by selling?giving any away, and i am trying to only hatch two specific breeds.
however it is so much simpler for me, and safe for my baby chicks to let a broody hen do the heavy lifting.
I am no longer in a seemingly constant fight to break a broody hen. I no longer have to worry about youngsters being killed by the flock, or the time lost caring for a brooder house. Now all i have to do is let my chickens be chickens and wait for that magical bird that causes my wife to say; "don't you think we may have too many chickens".. I still cannot get rid of the old ladies that i want to rehome. But i think time may be on my side. All i have to do is outlive about 7 hens that range from 3 to 10 years old. lol

 

[-Flash-]

I incubate my eggs. Mainly because my hens are terrible mothers. The last 4 babies they hatched only 1 is still alive... and he is brain damaged

 

[Ridgerunner]

I hatch with both broody hens and an incubator. Why? Because it suites my goals. One of my goals is to play with genetics. That means I need to hatch eggs. One of my goals is to eat meat, which ties in nicely with playing with genetics. I have chickens to eat since I hatch them.

 

[Brooks_]

Other. Chicken math got me. I also wanted to play with the genetics. I didn't want to have minimums from hatcheries or trust that chicks would be labeled correctly locally. In hindsight, I can say watching the hatch was rewarding, but was not the goal.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have to vote "I haven't tried it yet" because my cockerel is only 18 weeks old so I didn't have fertile eggs when my broody was broody (though a broody in my in-town flock surprised us with a puffball from an egg she managed to hide even though I was taking her eggs away).

I want to hatch my own to see all the fun mixed colors from my different breeds, but primarily I want the sustainability option of keeping the flock going without having to buy chicks.

 

[Feathercrazie]

I use a combination of broodies and incubator. The incubator is for extra eggs ( some breeds do not brood). I have also developed a breed that is a superior broodie and mama hen. They are also good foragers. Only problem they love to hide their nest in the most unexpected places. Also taming them is difficult. You have to start very early, almost from the time they hatch.

 

[K0k0shka]

Because it’s fun! Both the incubator and the broody. I’ve never bought chicks and don’t think I ever will. Incubators and broodies are too cool to pass up on for somebody else’s sketchy mass-produced chicks.

 

[Weeg]

Because it’s fun! Both the incubator and the broody. I’ve never bought chicks and don’t think I ever will. Incubators and broodies are too cool to pass up on for somebody else’s sketchy mass-produced chicks.

Exactly! This needs to be an option.