Which Incubator

[Mr Wolfy]

Hi folks complete newbie to the whole chicken scene, so new I haven't even got a coop/ house lol, I've decided to do the whole chicken world from scratch as in buy the eggs as I can't get the birds I want (Silver Laced Wyandotte's) from where I live , hopeful hatch them and rear the chicks to beautiful ladies :shock: . So my question to use is "what incubator would use recommend" I don't need a massive one as ill only be rearing max of 6 ! and prob only using it a few times so looking probably 2nd hand one and something not to expensive. Any help or info would be great
Thanks :thumbright:

 

[cherrycoop]

I have used the Brinsea Mini echo with excellent results for many hatches - my only recommendation would be to remove the thermometer at the point where you stop turning the eggs as the chicks tend to get tangled up with it.

 

[chrismahon]

Hi Mr Wolfy and welcome to the forum. You may need to hatch 12 eggs at least, as some will fail and half of the survivors will be cockerels. We use a Covatuttu 24, which is a semi-automatic in that the 3x daily egg turning is done by pulling then pushing an external lever, not with an electric motor. Very reliable if you have a surge protector socket to plug it in to. You can get a 20 egg version.

 

[Mr Wolfy]

Hi Chrismahon I'm only looking to keep 3-4max for my first time until I gain a bit of experience and see how I get on, ill prob go for a different bred of ladies after that for a bit of variety lol

 

[foxy]

Chris has raised a very good point, often on your first hatch you would lucky to hatch 50%, and then the odds are that around 50% will be male.
Another consideration is that you are far more likely to be able to sell on a 20 - 24 egg incubator, an Octagon 20 in good condition will always sell on ebay. The smaller incubators are a bit more tricky to get good hatches, mainly because having a smaller volume area inside are more susceptible to temperature and humidity fluctuations.

 

[Tanglechuck]

Sorry. Wrong thread. Navigating my way around while distracted by thoughts of the forthcoming additions.

 

[foxy]

No worries Tanglechuck, you have your own thread created here:

http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=8256

 

[Mr Wolfy]

Decisions decisions 07
This is why I joined the forum to get the expert advice and knowledge b4 rushing into anything