What is better

[Scott Paterson]

What is better putting Fertile eggs under a Broody Hen or Incubating them ??

 

[paneubert]

Nature has worked for millions of years, but an incubator allows for fine control of very small tweaks to temperature, humidity, number and direction eggs are turned per day, etc.... I would choose an incubator over a broody. But I would not look down or question anyone who decided to use "nature" as their method.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. One major benefit is that it's one heck of a lot easier to let the hen raise chicks rather than raising them in a brooder. Plus it's a heck of a lot of fun.

 

[Shadrach]

Hello Scott Paterson.
Welcome to BYC.
A broody hen is my vote every time provided she's allowed the right conditions.

 

[aart]

Depends on the situation and the goals and the demeanor of the keeper.
Both Broodies and Bators have their pros and cons.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I'll say my broody hens in the past have had higher hatching rates than me in lower end incubators. But all hens are not created equal. Just as all incubators aren't. I've had hens abandon a clutch for no reason. I've had a hen scalp and kill all of her chicks and then abandon a nest. But I've had a hen sit through a thunderstorm so fierce the wind ripped the roof of her house off...two nights in a row. But I've had amazing hatched in GQF Sportsman incubators and had little giant incubators that made me want to scream and set them on fire. So there's that.