Small home hatchery Setters and Hatchers

[AZHomesteadPoultry]

Hey everyone. I've Recently Started down the road of hatching Chickens for side income, and progressing my duel purpose chicken project. I'm gone working in Alaska May-Sept fishing, and have a dream of working for myself while taking my turn as stay at home parent here in Southeast AZ Sept-May. I'm in the Process of learning about getting NPIP certified. I've Been hatching Bielefelder X Delaware Sex-links to pretty Decent success financially speaking, Extra $200-$250 Per-week depending on Expenses. I was Using an RCOM Maru 380 and an RCOM 100 Hatcher to decent success 75-85% hatch rate. until the hatcher stopped working correctly throttling temp up and down 89 degrees to 103. hatcher was promptly replaced by the website I bought it from (Stromberg's) with great customer Service. however the "new" hatcher had the same issue with the sensor. After trouble shooting with RCOM USA tech support I've decided to abandon these units and return them, and I'm now on the search to replace them.

This is what I'm looking for

I need Units that can run continuously for 4-5 month periods
I need to be able to source part easily
I would like a Mostly automated easy to use interface
Setter needs to hold at least 200 large chicken eggs
Hatcher needs to hold at least 60 eggs
Easy to clean
Be able to function in with an external room temp range of 60-75 Degrees
needs to run off external water sources (trying to avoid using interior water trays and wicks)

Thanks for reading!

~Ryan

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It sounds like you need to examine GQF Sportsmen hatchers and incubators. They can be used interchangeably but it really helps to have dedicated units for each.
They are extremely reliable and worth biting the bullet for dependability and functionality.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Hey this is a bit off topic but what are your goals with the Delaware mixes? Just to make sex links? If you have other goals in your project I am curious. I breed Delawares and I was crossing them with Wyandotte to see how the size went. Did you see better weight gain with the Bielefelders?

 

[AZHomesteadPoultry]

It sounds like you need to examine GQF Sportsmen hatchers and incubators. They can be used interchangeably but it really helps to have dedicated units for each.
They are extremely reliable and worth biting the bullet for dependability and functionality.

I've looked into the Sportsman the price is fine. and I plan on having a dedicated hatcher. The GQF just doesn't really do it for me so far, I'd use one if i can't find anything else. I know they're pretty dependable and a classic stand by, but i want to avoid water tray and Wicking pads.

 

[AZHomesteadPoultry]

Hey this is a bit off topic but what are your goals with the Delaware mixes? Just to make sex links? If you have other goals in your project I am curious. I breed Delaware's and I was crossing them with Wyandotte to see how the size went. Did you see better weight gain with the Bielefelder's?

Mostly just for the Sex-links they sell well, and I can charge more for hens to put it plain and simple =). Believe it or not, I'm breeding with the Bielefelder to Make the rooster more manageable. I should start off by saying my Delaware's are Enhanced Delaware broilers from McMurray. I'm on like Gen4 with them they are stout birds that produce great eggs. but so far all my rooster have been absolute A**holes hahaha. My Bielefelder rooster is sweet as Pie and not quite as big as the Delaware's, but doesn't consume as much food. the Cross between the two grows really fast and feathers out super quick. 3 1/2 weeks till feathers on the head. My Delaware cockerels usually are about 5-6 lbs. at 16 weeks and just shy of 10lbs mature. I hope to breed the Sex-link females back to the Biel rooster and start beefing up that line, also would probably help with the Egg laying. Auto Sexing feature is a win as well.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've looked into the Sportsman the price is fine. and I plan on having a dedicated hatcher. The GQF just doesn't really do it for me so far, I'd use one if i can't find anything else. I know they're pretty dependable and a classic stand by, but i want to avoid water tray and Wicking pads.

I have 3 of the older generation 2000 series units. two incubators and a hatcher. Even though they are quite old, I'm a believer in their quality. I can only imagine how joyful it would be to have 3 of the new types.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Mostly just for the Sex-links they sell well, and I can charge more for hens to put it plain and simple =). Believe it or not, I'm breeding with the Bielefelder to Make the rooster more manageable. I should start off by saying my Delaware's are Enhanced Delaware broilers from McMurray. I'm on like Gen4 with them they are stout birds that produce great eggs. but so far all my rooster have been absolute A**holes hahaha. My Bielefelder rooster is sweet as Pie and not quite as big as the Delaware's, but doesn't consume as much food. the Cross between the two grows really fast and feathers out super quick. 3 1/2 weeks till feathers on the head. My Delaware cockerels usually are about 5-6 lbs. at 16 weeks and just shy of 10lbs mature. I hope to breed the Sex-link females back to the Biel rooster and start beefing up that line, also would probably help with the Egg laying. Auto Sexing feature is a win as well.

Wow this was really good info!! I gave up with the Wyandotte crosses. Did not grow and gain the way I was hoping. The cockerels were big and beautiful but the hens stayed more compact. I decided to just stick with the Delaware SOP. I'm getting 20 chicks in a few weeks from a breeder to add better genetics into mine. She has her Delawares at 5-6lbs around 12-13 weeks. My Delaware rooster is pretty good. I got lucky. My daughter(7 years old) can pick him up and hold him. He gets a bit fresh with me at times but nothing horrible. How are the Delaware broilers at butcher? Years ago I heard they were fatty inside. Is that still true or they look clean inside?
This is the first Bielefelder x Delaware cross I've heard of yet so I'm definitely interested.