San Diego Chicken meetup and Chat thread

[LALASD4]

I am a bottom line kind of person.

Would it cost more to buy chicks or get a good incubator? What would the break even # be in terms of #'s of chicks hatch?

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

The incubator I want (after much research and asking here) is called the Brinsea 20 Eco, it's $100 bucks, and a very good incubator with a high hatch rate, but it's basic. If you want to you can add an egg turner (so you don't have to turn them yourself every day) and that's another $50.

I would think after just a few orders from a hatchery it would pay for itself, however, there is a lot more headache involved when trying to hatch your own.

 

[Sweet Violet]

Cari is right.... not to mention heartache with every little one that develops but doesn't hatch out or has a severe deformity or ends up being a boy and I can't keep it...

 

[LALASD4]

Yeah, those situations could hurt a little bit, but also you can hatch exactly what you want assuming of course they some will hatch.


Quote:

 

[luvanimals2]

When you guys decide on a date, I will put it on my calendar. I want so much to join up again. It was so much fun to chat w/ other people that loves chickens as much as I do and do not think I am a nut case. HA!

Nancy



Quote:

 

[luvanimals2]

Quote:
This is my personal opinion about hatchery vs incubating. I think if you want to start a flock for either processing or eggs and time is of the essence, the hatchery guarantees live birds at a decent price. Incubating is like a roller coaster ride. 21 days of being on pins and needles. There are lots of mishaps and things you can and cannot control. You can have a power outtage and that could be the end of the eggs. Then there is the emotional side of it when the chicks do not hatch and you have to play god and cull. And of course the too many roosters when you are not allowed to have them which of course can happen with the hatchery stock too.

Awhile back my dad bought me a incubator from San Diego to incubate eggs for balut and believe me when I say this, we will never get our monies worth. I think as a hobby and to experience the hatching process it is priceless. If I had to chose dollars and cents and the bottom line, I would go with the hatchery.

Nancy

 

[LALASD4]

Thanks for all your opinions.

I see that their are balut for sale in the asian markets, I have never try any, they are just left on the counter, would they go bad about a day or 2?

 

[luvanimals2]

Quote:
My dad did not just buy the incubator for balut only since I did enjoy hatching chicks and just love the experience, the highs and lows. I hatched quails for him alot too. My parents did both. They used chicken balut for soup and they would eat the duck balut plain- not in soup. This is why I was enlisted to incubate them- they did not like how formed the ducks were that were purchased at the market. They were usually past the point of where they would like them so with me incubating them, they were insured that they got what they wanted. You will need to make sure when the eggs come in. I personally have tried balut a very long time ago but have not touched it since. I am told that alot of the balut at the market are NOT good. Whatever that means- I think they mean that they are way over the 17 days. I will not get graphic.

Nancy

 

[LALASD4]

My mother used to eat the developing chicken eggs in some kind of soup with wine but that was so long ago I don't remember how many days, I don't think it was that many days and you don't want them overly developed.

Quote:
My dad did not just buy the incubator for balut only since I did enjoy hatching chicks and just love the experience, the highs and lows. I hatched quails for him alot too. My parents did both. They used chicken balut for soup and they would eat the duck balut plain- not in soup. This is why I was enlisted to incubate them- they did not like how formed the ducks were that were purchased at the market. They were usually past the point of where they would like them so with me incubating them, they were insured that they got what they wanted. You will need to make sure when the eggs come in. I personally have tried balut a very long time ago but have not touched it since. I am told that alot of the balut at the market are NOT good. Whatever that means- I think they mean that they are way over the 17 days. I will not get graphic.

Nancy

 

[dfdesigns]

I just found this... I hope you guys will do it again sometime in the future!