What do you use to hatch your chicks?

[Nikitaa]

Next year for my 22nd birthday, my dad said he'll buy me an incubator and everything else I'll need to hatch chicks, he just wants me to have more experience first, which is fair, but 9months seems so long! So I'm researching what incubators an such are best and I'm just wondering what you all use or recommend to hatch your chicks and if you have any nifty tricks to share

 

[triplepurpose]

I prefer using a hen...

 

[Snooglerat]

I prefer using a hen...

That is a good method for sure

I love my Brinsea Mini Advance incubator personally! Haven't experienced a broody hen yet to try the old fashioned method.

 

[annaewart]

I prefer to use Silkies or Pekin Bantams when I can - Best broodys by far, although if it comes down to the Incubators, has to be an R-Com or Brinsea Octagon, and then the garden shed and a load of heat lamps for day olds +++, then cos I'm soft, the house if any of the beloved chooks are poorly.

We've always had good results that way.

Anna

 

[Nikitaa]

Its been so long since my hens actually laid an egg, I don't think they'd know what to do when it finally happens again, they are either moulting, stressed out from being brought to mine, stressed from the addition of new chickens and all having a mycoplasm infection that laying has been a no go for 4 weeks or so now.. These are my first chickens and I'm patiently waiting for that first egg but its starting to feel like it'll never happen

I was considering the Brinsea Mini Advance incubator, what do you think of the brooders also?

Thank you for your replies too

 

[annaewart]

The weather has knocked my hens off and on abit too, but I seem to have that many I always end up with eggs, . Good job too as its the chooks fave treat and they seem to be eating majority! Brinsea's are good but mine is abit tempermental at the mo, and have lost afew hatches, due to temp going up, down, up, down the 40 plus and boom - automaticlly lost.. but I really can't fault the R-com. I'd really consider Silkies too, Aslong as they have somewhere to keep dry during wetter days, can take upto around 24hrs for them to dry off properly.

 

[Snooglerat]

I have a Brinsea brooder for 20 chicks (the smaller one) I love it also! No pasty butts, no worry of a heat lamp that may catch the house on fire. The chicks also get a good day / night cycle because no light has to be on at night, so no pecking from light stress either. They run around and if the they are cool the duck under it, warm up, and run out again. It is too funny to watch them.

 

[emrys]

Are you going to be satisfied with hatching only 7 eggs at a time? I have the Mini and like not being able to go crazy with hatching more than I can handle. I guess it depends on what your expectations are. Also have the Eco 20. Love it. I wouldn't want to go back to a light for heat again.

 

[Hawgon]

I love my Brinsea Mini Advanced. Like many on here I like being limited to the number of eggs. I do have a homemade cabinet incubator that will hold up to 120 eggs if need be but I and the grandkids like the simplicity and size of the Brinsea. We have had great hatch rates from RIR to Seramas in it. We even did 2 Golden Pheasants. It is very stable on temps and easy to clean. A little more expensive than the styrofoam ones but I think worth it. Happy hatching no matter what you decide.

 

[Nikitaa]

Well, I did want to sell chickens as a bit of a hobby one day in the future, not to make money but just because I think it would be fun And I wanted to add to my little flock. If I bought a larger one that hatches 20 eggs, do I have to hatch 20 every time, or can I hatch any number I choose?

I think whatever size I get, it would be a Brinsea one after everything you have all said