Question about incubating

[emmyeagle]

Can you incubate without an incubator? Just curious if it is possible.

 

[Odelia]

Please clarify what you have in mind. The best way to hatch eggs with out an incubator is with a chicken. What are you thinking about using?

 

[emmyeagle]

I don't know. Was just curious if it could be done. My only laying hen isn't broody & the pullets aren't interested.

 

[Odelia]

Yes. Has it been done. People have used heat lamps. There was a story about an old farm wife who could hatch eggs with a high hatching rate in a shoe box under the wood stove. Apparently some one has even hatched one in their cleavage.

 

[emmyeagle]

Interesting. I am going to see if I can borrow my neighbors incubator. He breeds bearded dragons & may not have a clutch in the works.

 

[Odelia]

The key I turning the eggs several times daily and keeping them as close to approximately 100 degrees the whole time. There is a thread from this spring by woman who was using a heat pat to create a nest that was as close as possible to a natural nest. The heat pad was her substitute broody hen.

 

[Odelia]

If you can borrow an incubator I would go with that. Though other ways can work they often have very low hatch rates.

 

[emmyeagle]

Probably won't incubate this hens eggs anyways. She isn't very nice. Roo is good looking, but her....not so much. Thank you for replying.