To hatch or not to hatch...need your thoughts

[Marion565]

I had one of my RIR go broody and she hatched 3 out of 4 eggs. They hatched on Easter Sunday. At first I kept them seperate but I looked at mamas behavior and decided that the little ones would be safe out with the flock. Yes they are more shy than the ones that I got from a hatchery but I would never go back to any other way of hatching. Mama does all the work and keeps the little ones safe. Now if I just had the guts to butcher my own chickens I'd have a self sustaining flock

BTW another one of my RIR decided 10 days ago that she wanted to be a mama too, she is sitting on 3 eggs. Wish me luck.

 

[Grand-hen-ma]

Good luck. I am just like you about not being able to get the guts up to butcher any of my girls. Maybe one of these days when and if I get over run.

 

[cmom]

I prefer to incubate as I can plan my hatches better. I never know when one of the hens will go broody and if I have the eggs. I can hatch a lot more eggs in my incubator than one of the hens can hatch. This is just my opinion.

 

[Marion565]

I think that incubators are the perfect solution for frequent hatching, don't get me wrong, I just fell in love with the sight of my mama chicken with her babies. The other reason I like it better is that it is so much easier. I don't have to keep the little ones seperate, mama takes care of them I don't have to worry about integrating them into the flock. I just think it is easier for me. Just my opinion.

 

[Grand-hen-ma]

Thanks cmom and Marion. I see your point.

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
I do both. I prefer to let the broodies provide my replacement chickens. I do slip specific eggs under that I want to continue the qualities I want for future flock. I incubate when I need to replace Guineas, having found the nest in the field and no broody to slip the eggs under. I also have incubated when predator attacks reduced my flock, I incubated all the eggs I had left to maintain the genetics I had been developing.

 

[schellie69]

I use only a broody. It just seems easier some how they seem to know what they are doing. I love watching the hens with their babies. I think I will just use broody's but I right now I am just having chickens for eggs when I get a farm and need meat birds I plan to hatch with a broody first if that does not work I will get an incubator.

 

[Grand-hen-ma]

Thanks Darkmatter and Schellie. I am learning so much. I appreciate your thoughts, thank you.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have never done an incubator. But I have done a broody twice now, and by Monday will be my 3rd time. I really think that a broody raised chick is healthier. Mama gets them out in the real world very quickly, they get more exercise, a wider variety of diet, and develops better feathers.

However, the number of chicks is limited. That is why, while my hen is setting on 9 eggs, I am also headed to the feed store tonight to pick up some chicks. I want some different breeds, and I want some more numbers. I am hoping to get mama to raise the whole bunch.

For a backyard enthusiast a broody hen is a great deal of fun and interest. For a more serious breeder, one would get faster results with a incubator.

MrsK

 

[Grand-hen-ma]

Thanks MrsK