Famous last words. Do yourself a favor and go as large as you can afford. You can incubate 10 eggs in an incubator that will hold 100 eggs, but you can't incubate 100 eggs in an incubator that hold 10 eggs. After spending $170 on an incubator that holds up to 27 chicken eggs, and running a few batches through it, I quickly realized it wasn't going to fit my future needs. I took a dead mini-fridge and converted it into an incubator. It has a digital thermostat, two egg turners, and uses halogen bulbs as the heat source. It would have held 82 eggs between the two trays, but I had to cut one row off of each turner to get it to fit in the mini-fridge, reducing the number of eggs to 68. It might fit my needs in the future, but I doubt it. If you or someone you know is mechanically inclined, you can build a large incubator for about half of what you'll pay for a Brinsea, and have great hatches in it. They can be built out of most anything that's insulated, and there's not that much to them. A search for Coolerbator or homemade incubator on this site will show how to build them. They're great for people on a budget...
Quote:
I made a homemade hatcher out of a cooler. I originally had one 40 watt light bulb with a computer fan and the bulb had burnt out. I modified it and put 2 - 15 watt bulbs in with a wafer thermostat with the fan. Someone gave me the cooler. I made a wire rack to fit in it. It cost me around $10.00 total. I have had some great hatches in it. I have incubated in it also. The temperature does fluctuate a bit but does not affect the hatch. A broody will get off her nest everyday to eat, drink and poop. Someday you may want to hatch. It really is to me very rewarding. I love to hatch and watch the chicks grow into adults. Each has it's own personality. It does get expensive but I do it because I love it and it is really a hobby for me. I have been retired for several years. I'm just an old lady who enjoys the birds. I don't do it for money, I sell eggs for eating, birds in the fall and eggs for hatching in the spring. Everything I make goes back into the birds. It helps offset the costs of raising them. For months I'm feeding them and it costs a tidy sum, but it's my choice. Follow your own heart and head and do what is best for you. Good luck and have fun...
Setting up for a hatch. One of the temperature sensors was directly over the light bulb and the other in another spot in it.
After modifications and a hatch.
Before modifications.
After modification.
I take the chicks and their shells out as they hatch.
Before modification.
Before modification
Getting setup for a hatch before modification.
Before modification
Before modification. I had put a dimmer switch to somewhat control the temperature.
I know most folks on this thread have been very busy this spring, and I'm glad to see the thread starting to move as well.
A classic example... thanks, cmom. One certainly don't have to start with an expensive, brand-name incubator. Start-up has expenses far greater than an incubator, so that money may be better served for housing, feed, meds, etc.I made a homemade hatcher out of a cooler. I originally had one 40 watt light bulb with a computer fan and the bulb had burnt out. I modified it and put 2 - 15 watt bulbs in with a wafer thermostat with the fan. Someone gave me the cooler. I made a wire rack to fit in it. It cost me around $10.00 total. I have had some great hatches in it. I have incubated in it also. The temperature does fluctuate a bit but does not affect the hatch. A broody will get off her nest everyday to eat, drink and poop. Someday you may want to hatch. It really is to me very rewarding. I love to hatch and watch the chicks grow into adults. Each has it's own personality. It does get expensive but I do it because I love it and it is really a hobby for me. I have been retired for several years. I'm just an old lady who enjoys the birds. I don't do it for money, I sell eggs for eating, birds in the fall and eggs for hatching in the spring. Everything I make goes back into the birds. It helps offset the costs of raising them. For months I'm feeding them and it costs a tidy sum, but it's my choice. Follow your own heart and head and do what is best for you. Good luck and have fun...
Setting up for a hatch. One of the temperature sensors was directly over the light bulb and the other in another spot in it.
After modifications and a hatch.
Before modifications.
After modification.
I take the chicks and their shells out as they hatch.
Before modification.
Before modification
Getting setup for a hatch before modification.
Before modification
Before modification. I had put a dimmer switch to somewhat control the temperature.
This is true. Just as every person in the world is unique, every breeder will have his/her way of doing things. I completely agree that there are many (if not most) buyers that want the very best birds from the start and... as I call it... start from the top and work sideways. I understand that mentality, as there are two types of people that want to do this... those that want instant gratification... and those that love the breed and want to start with the best birds possible. While the two can be somewhat intertwined, there will always be a difference between the two. Those seeking instant gratification want to climb over the backs of the breeders who've spent years, perhaps generations, perfecting their birds just so they can win ribbons and boast about having champion birds. Then there are those that actually love the breed and want to preserve it's heritage. While they may not be seeking ribbons or to take advantage of the breeder's hard work, they do want quality birds to make their job of breeding a little easier... a good start. I realize it can be difficult for a breeder to tell the difference between these people, and trust can be hard to gain. No breeder wants to see their life's work squandered away. I suppose that could lead to two types of breeders as well... those that only trust and deal with a select few... and those that will deal with everyone with the hope that most of those people are sincere about keeping the breed going in the right direction. Obviously, purebred chickens are not as easy to come by as purebred puppies...People do things differently. Some top breeders of certain breeds so jealously guard the reputation and quality they've worked so very to achieve that they are closed to business. Period. They virtually trust no one. Few folks are that closed up tight, but such people do exist. There are those who do not wish to sell to someone who will become their "competition". This angers some wanna be buyers who think they have a right to demand things. Demanding won't work. You'd be just better off looking elsewhere.
Ask any breeder who exhibits and they will tell you about those who ask for birds with the mentality of a lottery player looking for a Scratch 'n Win ticket. They don't want to do the long, multi-year work it takes to raise a quality bird, they feel entitled to just buy what they want, when they want it, for an almost instant gratification. Often it is a parent looking to buy little Suzy or little Johnny a winning bird for an upcoming fair show or whatever. Most of us find such requests offensive and steer clear of such people.
Other breeders are a bit more "open" and maybe too open, but they need funds to continue on so they sell eggs/chicks/juveniles/adult birds. How any particular breeder sells what they don't want or need to sell to fund their operation is entirely up to them. We all sell, well, most of us but it all depends on how, when and where we sell. There are no set rules that govern personal choices.
As a potential buyer, you just have to accept how the breeder does things, after all, you are asking them for their work product, this isn't like ordering off Amazon. If he/she says "I'll have birds to sell come October", then that is what will be.
