Jan 09 2009
Hatch Baby Chicks
As thoughts turn to the spring, so do ideas of hatching baby chicks. I have a rather broad assortment of chickens, but I usually get my chicks from a hatchery. This year I may try my hand at hatching chicks in an incubator or simply letting my broody hens hatch their own babies.
Hatching baby chicks isn’t too complicated unless you decide to use an incubator. As a veteran 4-H member, I could tell you stories about the hazards of incubators, but luckily technology has changed a bit since I hatched chicks this way several decades ago. Today, incubators have built in turners, thermostats and other bells and whistles that will have you hatching live and happy chicks in no time.
Don’t be put off about doing this; it can be done on a small scale and may not even cost much. If you have a Cooperative Extension office locally, they may loan you an incubator to help with your efforts (ours does, just ask!). Alternatively, many hatcheries also sell this equipment, along with the eggs too.
The following businesses (as I am sure many others as well) sell incubators:
Murray McMurray Hatchery - sells mini-dome incubators ($17.95) that holds 3 chicken eggs as well as large capacity incubators that can hold up to several hundred eggs at a time.
Stromberg’s - sells a wide variety of incubators to suit any operation
Nature Form - sells incubators for the small flock owner and those who have much larger poultry operations
Poultry Supply - also sells a wide variety of incubators and other supplies for your budding hatchery!
