Hello, For the first time I try thise method... successfull.. Using an automatic incubator I got pictures. Steps ---> How to hatch chicken eggs Comments?
WAY too many pages for me , I made 5 & then NEXT . crappy web forum , way to much bots & adds. I'll note all from you now , since twice !! Backyard chickens , read there , I made my incubator, brooder , scalier & de-feather machine & we just today did 89 birds , Ducks & chickens for next years meat . Sloth
I understand the pecking order, but my grandfather used to free range his chickens at the farm and there were always eggs and fried chicken.... I have to note, I know nothing about chickens except how to cook them.
When I lost half my flock in one afternoon to a mama coyote and her pups or a pack of dogs I stopped free ranging. They are not "happy hens" when something is chewing their ass end.
I let my chickens and turkeys free range lose a few to varmints but seem to stay ahead with the hens hatching. When we find a hen sitting we add eggs. Our dog watches the place when we are at work even scanning the air for hawks, could come in handy one day to alert for drones lol.
I used to use a couple of styrofoam incubators with air movers and auto turners. Had good success with them, even hatched a few goose eggs out in them one time. I used them because I could put 36 eggs in each one. Have yet to find a single broody who could handle 3 dozen eggs in one setting. At the time I was raising some rare breeds so it was worth the extra hassle, but these days I prefer to let the hens do the work.
lets see , Coons ,marmots , weasel ,hawks eagles ,rogue dogs & feral cats ,to mountain lions & then two legged coons who steal. What is the length of a chickens teeth ?
After setting up an incubator for its temperature,humididty and ventilation, select for the best fertile eggs and incubate. Now resist the urge to help with the hatching process , rather leave it to happen on its own time. Once the chick is free from the egg, let it dry off in thw armth of incubator before shifting to brooder
Don't freak out about the incubator being a couple degrees off one way or another. Mother hens don't set on their eggs 24/7. Some are right under her and some half under her so the temps vary. I once lost power to my incubator for 17 hours and still had a 95% hatch rate. And although I know it's a no-no, I will help a chick hatch if they have been pippin for a long time and are still trying, but only after the last chick has hatched normally. I have had a few die on me but most grow out normally. I believe in giving life a chance.
Crow found a hole in the bird netting over my chicken yard this morning , didn't quite get a shot off before he found his way out . I've read that to get a hen to brood they need to be in the dark a while. I can afford to give it a try, and i'd prefer that hens raise the chicks rather then artificially doing it. I know it takes more patience but I can afford it.