high number of deaths in incubator

chooklover101 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:00 am

C.K. wrote:

That depends on what you want to do,
I've had a lot worse deaths and hatch rates with broody hens than a well set up incubator,
and most of the hens go broody when its too late to hatch or too hot , but it all depends on your individual situation.

My chickens are lucky. If they hatch them when it is cold, i'll bring them inside(my chooks don't really go broody in the winter though).Thankfully I have a mum that doesn't mind it!

C.K · **Posted:** Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:44 pm

Don't get me wrong I do use broody hen just not a lot but there are times when an incubator and good brooder set up is better.

chooklover101 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 02, 2013 10:27 pm

C.K. wrote:

Don't get me wrong I do use broody hen just not a lot but there are times when an incubator and good brooder set up is better.

guess so, but there are lots of little things to mess up which a broody hen does for you!

C.K · **Posted:** Sat Mar 02, 2013 11:10 pm

Not really the only advantage a hen has it save on power costs.
Hand rared chicks grow much faster and are healthier if your set up is right.
Plus the hen raised chicks are wilder you can't catch then to treat them for pests as easy.

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

C.K. wrote:

the only advantage a hen has it save on power costs.

have you considered =
under hen for 18 days then take all but 2 eggs to hatch them in incubator
yes you have to pay for the power for the heating lamps but its a thought to save a little money

chooklover101 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 03, 2013 8:15 am

soozorps wrote:

C.K. wrote:

the only advantage a hen has it save on power costs.

have you considered =
under hen for 18 days then take all but 2 eggs to hatch them in incubator
yes you have to pay for the power for the heating lamps but its a thought to save a little money

I don't really care about power costs, but you have to turn the eggs, or they will die, you have to have the perfect, or they will die, ventilation, the moisture has to be perfect or they will die. For me a hen is less work and less heartache if something goes wrong with the brooder

C.K · **Posted:** Sun Mar 03, 2013 10:43 am

Hi soozorps I've only ever put eggs from a broody into the incubator when they have been scared off the nest or given up.
I have got some pekins for the porpose of broodies although this summer everthing seams to want to go broody.
The more expensive type incubators do all that for you no need to worry and to me needing everything perfect to hatch is a bit of a furphy
good nutrition in the parent stock is the key.
Brooder heat can be an issue if its cold.
thats why I say its up to each person one size don't fit all, for your situation chickenlover101 the broodies are best and I don't disagree with you
but others it isn't

chooklover101 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 03, 2013 12:55 pm

C.K. wrote:

Hi soozorps I've only ever put eggs from a broody into the incubator when they have been scared off the nest or given up.
I have got some pekins for the porpose of broodies although this summer everthing seams to want to go broody.
The more expensive type incubators do all that for you no need to worry and to me needing everything perfect to hatch is a bit of a furphy
good nutrition in the parent stock is the key.
Brooder heat can be an issue if its cold.
thats why I say its up to each person one size don't fit all, for your situation chickenlover101 the broodies are best and I don't disagree with you
but others it isn't

yeah it depends on what suits them :-D

for me its the broodies

MrMod · **Joined:** Fri Mar 08, 2013 12:39 pm **Posts:** 1

I agree the parent nutrition is key it help give you good strong healthy chicks

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