What is a good incubator and place to order eggs?

[ChickBond 007]

My suggestion: Buy a Hovabator 1588 and the egg turner. I've lost too many eggs in a still-air incubator and won't bother with one again.
As far as eggs: Here's my favorite way to buy them:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=147617

 

[Sissy]

I too bought my Gensis 1588 hova with the turner from Cutlers supply cant be beat. I believe it was 160.00 with the turner
Always keeps it temp. and hum.
first hatch out of 9 set. I got 8 and they are doing well.
Sissy

 

[walkswithdog]

I prefer eggs from BYCers. I have bought off ebay and eggbid as well. I have picked up eggs three times and hatched my own. The odds are better with your own or driven eggs.

I've had good and bad hatches from shipped eggs. One none hatched, every egg was scrambled in shipping. One batch I botched but many were fertile. The last few, most if not all have gone and hatched. One set was badly shaken and all had damaged air cells, but four developed and hatched anyway and they are awesome chicks.

I wouldn't advise buying on ebay unless you know the ad is from a BYCer (or BYC referred) or are willing to take a significant risk. Until you know who and what you are looking for, there are a lot of people willing to take your money and send you what amounts to trash.

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
Buying eggs from a BYC member will not make them a miracle eggs which will hatch no matter what.

It only means that hopefully the person has a track record and hopefully the person is honest and reputable.

That applies to all egg purchases no matter where you buy them.

As a matter of fact I was once offered a doz eggs from a member of this board.

The problem was this dozen of hatching eggs came from one hen.

No more comments.

 

[ILOVEFRIZZLES]

i have Frizzle Standard Cochins they have feathered feet.

 

[walkswithdog]

Of course there are no guarantees on BYC either. Folks should use common sense. But there is a FEEDBACK section. You have the opportunity to get to "know" people and breeds and get referrals.

There are bad breeders here and uninformed ones and ones with few standards for their stock. They don't get good feedback or referrals. I've been offered chickens and eggs I didn't take, having learned enough about the breed to know what I was looking at. Sometimes I've been warned away from some breeder privately by friends here.

No, they aren't miracle eggs, but you can get eggs here, from people actually caring about the quality of what they produce, including meeting the standards for their breeds and their reputation, that's hard to mimic in other "sale only" forums.

This is like an all breed club, there are some bad "eggs" but there are some people doing the best to care and raise and sell excellent specimens of the breeds they're invested in.

I prefer that to the anonymity of ebay or eggbid. Shows are good places to find people showing breeds who may have eggs available in your area. I also buy from breed club members in the breeds I'm interested in.

Lots of good and bad sources for eggs. Part of preventing ripoff is learning before you buy. And using your head.

Let's start with knowing enough not to buy hatching eggs frome someone who doesn't have a Roo to fertilize eggs. But I figure common sense can sort out a few more people as well.