TWO INCUBATOR METHOD

[vp5002]

I like to breed only my best chickens and that maybe only 2, 3 or 4 hens at one time
and sometimes just a single mating. In order to get a lot of chicks you must have an
egg turning incubator running continuous and another one setup just for hatching
and incubate every egg that candles good. I like to build my own incubators but have
found some incubators for under $30.00 and with some slight modifications work well
for the 18 day turning period only. And if you use more than one incubator for hatching
and turning like I do you can mate different breeds at once and get a lot of chicks during
the hatching season. Just be sure to pencil mark the eggs so you will know when it is time
to move them from the turning incubator into the hatching incubator and if you only
use 2 incubators wait 4 days between setting your eggs so the hatching incubator will
be free or you can add eggs anytime that would time out when have room in your
hatching incubator. I started using this method about 40 years ago when a game cock
breeder offered me 50 cent a chick for everyone I could hatch for him, and they were
all single mated so I made some small cages out of cage wire to keep them separated in
the hatching incubator and by doing this I could add eggs at any time. I really like this
method because you only have the hatching incubator to clean and the egg turning
incubators stay clean and looking like new.



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[Debbie292d]

Excellent!

I love your use of cheaper incubators for lockdown/hatching. I wasn't as frugal and normally use two purchased incubators, but I could do up to four if needed. These hold 62 silkie eggs, and I'd never get that many within a week, so I run staggered hatches all summer long.

The only thing I do different for the staggered hatching is I do 5 days between setting eggs. These are silkie eggs and I've had some pip as early as 18 days, so that's just a consideration for those of us with early hatching poultry. Otherwise, spot on! Great summary of how you do it!

 

[Gypsi]

I just set up my DIY incubator last night with 11 new eggs, on day 10 of the eggs in the turning incubator. I could conceivably tag those and move them over before they make a mess on day 18+

 

[Gypsi]

I have chicks in the fancy incubator. Moved to the diy, about to go bring brooder inside

 

[Gypsi]