Some smaller and low cost incubators simply instruct the user to pour some water into the base of the machine below the elevated trays, or to squirt the eggs with a spray bottle. Water will need to be added to an incubator to create the desired amount of humidity. I am not a fan of tech gadgets in general, but either built-in or added handheld battery powered candling gadgets can come in quite handy during the egg incubation process – and a great way to make the hatching process more of a hands-on learning experience for children. If you hold a candle flame too close to the egg or for too long, you can damage the embryo. Some more advanced large incubators also include a “days to hatch” read out to help you track the days to hatch for the entire batch of eggs.Ĭandling eggs is an old-fashioned (and usually highly accurate) way to check the progress of the developing embryo. If you incubator does not have a humidity gauge, it is worth the few dollars it will cost to purchase one from a pet store or online. Purchasing an incubator with both types of interior readers will make the process easier and far more successful. Nearly all incubators include a built-in thermostat, but not necessarily a humidity gauge. If the incubator does not turn the eggs automatically, someone will need to physically turn the eggs a minimum of three times per day – often many more, to ensure the chicks develop properly. Purchasing an incubator with an automatic turning arm or tray that is moved via a mechanical device will not only be a great timesaver, but likely vastly increase the chances of the hatching experience of being a success. Poultry Incubator Components And Buying Tips Even the a one degree temperature deviation from the recommended heat setting can cause eggs to become rotten, and kill the growing embryo in the process. It is not recommended to incubate eggs from different poultry in the same machine. Hatching your own chicks will be the only way to ensure you flock does not dwindle when both eggs and birds are eaten at a far greater rate. But once I decided to raise only Buckeye chickens, adding Banty hens back into the flock would have caused breeding issues since I free range and everyone share the same coop at night.ĭuring a long-term disaster you will not be able to go to a local agriculture store or order chicks online from a hatchery. The Bantam hens and Silkie hens I used to raise were all excellent sitters and would even take in duck eggs. Not a single one of my heritage breed Buckeye chicken hens or Pekin duck females have even the slightest interest in sitting an egg. Some poultry bird breeds simply are not good sitters in general. Depending upon the ratio of good sitters to layers, one maternal hen may not be able to keep up with the egg demand – no matter how determined she is to try. When you have “good sitters” maybe you do not think investing in a poultry egg incubator is worth the machine cost, electricity used, and all the bother.īut, your good sitting hens can get killed by a predator or simply become ill and die suddenly. But, I would rather save money and cultivate my own line of robust poultry birds breeds than buy those raised, possibly entirely indoors in a cage, cultivated by someone else. I have never personally had bad luck with any chick, duckling, turkey, or even guinea that was purchased at Tractor Supply, Rural King, or a local agriculture store. The birds that produce your chicks were never subject to factory farm husbandry techniques, have developed a natural immunity to common pest and environmental conditions on your homestead, and were never exposed to antibiotic injections or growth hormones. When incubating poultry eggs, you know exactly what goes into the food you will be eating from start to finish. Learning how to incubate your own chicken, duck, and turkey eggs not only furthers your self-reliance goals, but allows you the ability to further your own strong and healthy line of birds. But I also don’t see the need to spend extra money to complete a homesteading task you can do on your own…perhaps even better and cheaper. When the cold winter finally gives way to spring, Tractor Supply, Rural King, and many stores like them capitalize on our eagerness to get outdoors growing and raising our own groceries. It is that time of year again, fellow homesteaders – chick days at agriculture supply stores.
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