Topic of the Week - Broody vs Incubator

[sylviethecochin]

Question. I've got bantams (2 cochins, 2 OEGB & 1 silkie) for my broodies. IF they do go broody, how many large sized eggs is the recommended number to set under them?

OEGBs? Two. Three if you have a good nest.
Cochins--bantam or large? Can't speak for large, but Sylvie can cover four, on a good nest. Possibly more, but she doesn't like a lot of eggs. (Yes, I named myself after a chicken.)
My last silkie broody hatched out eleven of a dozen, but four were bantam. I wouldn't generally go above ten, but silkies can vary so widely in body type (depending on hatchery) that it's hard to say for absolute certain.

I'd invest in some rubber pans. They're great for shoring up the sides of nests.

No idea on Turkeys. Sorry.

 

[BonDEEroo]

Broodies for me because of the excellent hatch rate and the chicks being low maintenance. The dust from a brooder is incredible. I bribe my broody hens with hand-fed treats while they are sitting so they look forward to me sticking my hand into the nesting box. The chicks learn to be friendlier too. You’ve just got to know which are the good mothers - I’ve got 2 or 3 that are brilliant - and only let them raise eggs. It’s a lottery what you get by way of chicks, though.

 

[BantyChooks]

z

Two things to consider if using solar power: 1. No power outages. 2. By hatching season the sun should be high enough on the horizon that your batteries should fully charge each day. It would depend on how far away from the equator though. In my case, I'm far enough north that it gets light at about 4:30 am, and dark around 11 pm in June. The short amount of time that the batteries themselves are being used is quite short.

With that said, I've chosen to use broodies if I can. This will be my first year hatching, and to be honest, don't have the funds to buy incubators or brooders.

Question. I've got bantams (2 cochins, 2 OEGB & 1 silkie) for my broodies. IF they do go broody, how many large sized eggs is the recommended number to set under them?

I really like the idea of using a turkey to hatch chickens. Is there a breed that is more prone to broodiness?

Doesn't work so well when you're trying to get hatching season going in January.

What happens when you have cloudy weather for a week, or when there's a foot of snow that sticks firmly to the solar panels? Yeah, the power goes out, lol. Maybe not if you have something other than a roof mount system but that's what happens here. Would have put in a rotating ground stand but there's no location on my property that gets adequate sunlight except for the roof, and I know it's the same deal for many around here.

Friend of mine that's off grid entirely doesn't have things like microwaves to conserve power and she only does laundry on sunny days. Perhaps if you have a small family or a giant system it'd be different.

Incubators are wicked expensive, huh? That's why I went DIY, because my wallet begged for mercy when I started browsing the feed store shelves.

 

[BantyChooks]

I don't understand why everyone's saying you can't candle a broody's eggs. If I didn't trust a hen to sit through that, I wouldn't let her brood a clutch. Determined and motherly sitters only, please!

I agree. Plus, the hen gets off the nest every morning. I find it hard to believe that the act of placing the rubber base of a clean candler on eggs kills them, eh ?

The last time I had a broody hatch I candled a bunch. The hen didn't care, and she got a 100% hatch rate.

 

[Sublight]

To be fair, this is my take on it.

If you plan on raising a small backyard flock, and just want to manage your flock, then a good broody will keep your numbers up, and is as easy as can be.

Spoiler: Click this for Pros for Broody

Nothing beats mother nature.
1. Easier, especially for people that are new to chickens. (I think all new flocks should have one good silkie girl)
2. Cheaper
3. Better Hatch Rate
4. No Brood box
5. Integrated into flock easier
6. No Temp problems
7. No Humidity problems
8. Teach the young.
9. Incredibly fun to watch
10. The mom teaches the young that you are not a threat. Super tame.

If you plan on raising a large flock, and maintaining that flock, or you are breeding to sell eggs/chicks or some other reason that makes you need to hatch a lot of chickens then the incubator may be for you.
Also this is good if you just like to see the entire process for yourself.

Spoiler: Click here for Incubator Pros

Hatching in bulk

Incubators Pros
1. Can hatch massive amounts of chickens
2. Have more control over eggs (Candling etc.)
3. Get to enjoy every stage of a eggs development, and get to watch them hatch.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

Deciding to broody or not to broody, and vice versa. I don't know what to do

 

[red horse ranch]

I use broody hens and incubators. I just had a broody hen hatch 5 chicks yesterday. I know, it's too early and too cold in Wyoming to have babies but my 7 month old Australorp was determined. So I gave her some eggs. I'm actually glad to have the hen doing the raising. If the electric goes out those chicks will still be fine under mamma.
I do sell chicks and started chickens tho and a brood hen can't hatch as many as I need. So the incubators are busy in the spring and summer.
It all depends on what a person's goals are for hatching chicks. If you just want to increase your flock a little every year then a good brood hen is worth her weight in gold. But if you are looking for birds to eat and to lay eggs or to sell little ones, then you will have to use an incubator.

 

[Dr.Dale]

I like the fact that it is not so clear cut. I think I will try both. My father in law gave me an incubator for Christmas, so I will start there and try a broody when the opportunity presents itself.

 

[J.Bird]

Personally, I like the idea of having a hen hatch eggs over an incubator. This is because usually the hens have better hatch rates then incubators, they don't require electricity, and the do all the work. I do however like incubators because you get to watch the whole hatching process.

 

[Cluck 'n Quack]

If I were to hatch under a broody would I be able to take the eggs at the latest stage and hatch them inside the house and raise the chicks? Would she let me? Would the chicks/pipped eggs just need a heat lamp? I love raising chicks and I couldn’t bare to watch those cute little fluff butts not be friendly with humans