To incubate or not... Help me decide!

[KSH1]

I can't seem to find the birds I want within driving distance ("real" Jersey Giants), so I'm debating having chicks or eggs shipped. I have so many questions!
- I prefer to vaccinate for Marek's as it is endemic here, but not all breeders offer it - if I hatch here I can vaccinate on day 1. (I'd prefer NOT to get into a vaccination debate on this thread, please and thanks.)
- I don't own an incubator and have never used one, but in at least one case I could probably buy hatching eggs and an incubator for the price of a similar number of chicks. The chick option would likely result in more live birds at least initially, but if not vaccinated until day 2 or 3 will vaccine efficacy be affected? And I'd have the incubator for future use .... if I decide I want to. Or presumably I could sell it.
- Is it smarter to use cheaper eggs for my first attempt at incubating? I'd hate to lose any unnecessarily, but I'd hate even more to waste a bunch of money AND lose birds to a rookie mistake.
- Is it possible to buy a used incubator and have it not be a huge gamble? Never having used one, I wouldn't know how to evaluate it, but it also seems like the kind of thing that the seller could demonstrate to work briefly but it might still be faulty. Does this happen often? How far off new prices does it need to be to be worth a shot?
- What about convincing one of my Orpington hens to go broody? I don't believe any of my hens has ever hatched a brood though. Again, smarter to test first on cheaper eggs?
I don't think I want to show or breed for sale at this point. I have lots of space but don't want to hatch zillions and collect lots of cockerels either. Any tips or advice (or good sources for BBS Giants) would be much appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Kgbao]

Following

 

[feedman77]

If you want best number if chicks buy chicks. Hatching any egg that is shipped a major gamble. Too many factors beyond your control. As far as incubators if you go that route depending on your budget get the best you can afford. Most of the time these are get what you pay for. For a tabletop incubator I would use a 1588 genesis by hovabator. It and Turner a little over 200 dollars. But its digital and accurate. Pretty much plug and play.

If you do get an incubator you will always have it for when your birds start to lay, get older or you want chicks. You wont have to rely on broodie hens.. hatch when you want them.

I have bought used 1588, brinsea 20,(ebay) and 2 1502 (local sale) cabinets used. Took a chance but all have worked well.

Good luck on your decision

 

[SueT]

It seems there is a shortage of chicks to buy, due to coronavirus and people rushing to stock up. If you can hatch chicks, you can probably sell all the extras you can hatch.
I just bought a small incubator to hatch chicks from a pair I have, and a bit later learned about the chick shortage. It's even on the national news.
I'd say go for it!