Out of curiosity...

[Plain Old Dee]

Is it too late in the year to start a batch of eggs in the incubator? Would any hens that hatch lay before next fall?

Which is better - incubator or real mom for the eggs?

I know nothing about baby chicks. We always bought adult hens. We had a couple hatch a clutch or two of babies, but there was a high mortality rate with the babies and only a couple lived to adulthood.

I think I could cobble together a brooder out of an old play pen (saw one on this website that gave me the idea). I thought I might try raising some babies to increase the flock (I want LOTS of eggs - huge family to feed!), but don't know how cost effective it would be.

Any thoughts?

 

[LauraSBale]

as long as you can keep the baby's warm tell they feather out, i dont see why not,
and you should get eggs by mid summer, from any hens that hatch out

 

[tomcio]

I have a batch of layers growing up currently and coturnix eggs in the incubator. It's never too late to set a batch, so long as you can keep them warm enough until they feather out and gradually change their temperature as you put them outside (so not to shock their systems).

I expect my batch of layers to start producing around January/February.