The Poultry Keeper

newby · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 143 Location: Dordogne

I seem to have lost the plot somewhere. I put eggs into an incubator with heat and wait for them to hatch. What is /why do I need a hatcher. I'm not being picky just perhaps stupid, I just don't understand. Perhaps my brain got addled somewhere.

CP · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:18 am Post subject:

You don't need a hatcher but some people use one either so they can re use the incubater that much sooner or because it saves having to clean out the incubator more thoroughly as most of the 'mess' is created when they hatch. Wink

Easier if you hatch a lot of eggs for selling. Wink

We don't have one as we only hatch for ourselves, not to sell.

Unless there are other reasons I don't know about??? Confused

shear_legend9 · Joined: 13 Aug 2008 Posts: 18

Also easier since you might have to change the temperature once they have hatched which might take a while to settle.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3469 Location: Monmouthshire

The advantage to me is that when I remove the clears from the incubator I can refill with any fertile eggs I may have. So...I start with 24 eggs, due to come out 21 days later, but by day 10 I find 6 infertiles. Replace with new eggs. Take out the remaining 18 on day 19, refill with waiting eggs & candle the 6 replacements, repeat this often enough - and date eggs as they go in - and the reason for a hatcher becomes clear! Chicks go under electric hens and I have no problem mixing ages/breeds.

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1189 Location: Cornwall

Blimey Henwife, I need to lie down in a dark room after reading that! LOL

CP · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:56 am Post subject:

Now, I could never manage to do that Henwife. Rolling Eyes

My poor brain is already confused just reading your post! Embarassed

chickens rock your sox · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 131 Location: Kildare-Ireland

.......................... Confused

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newby · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 143 Location: Dordogne

Thanks for the info. Don't you lead a very complicated life Henwife, makes me dizzy to think about it. Only hatching for ourselves so no problems at present. Laughing

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3469 Location: Monmouthshire

It's not as bad as it sounds, so long as I remember to put the date on the on both the eggs and the calendar when I put them in, and then put on the calender to candle at 10 days and a reminder to transfer them at day 18 - so long as the incubation and hatch number are the same, I don't very often get a rocking hatchliing in the incubator. It also reminds me to either break or encourage anyone who thinks of going broody - very useful if you can sex at hatch.