Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Chicken Eggs Hatch Rate
Average of Broodiness Hen:
Broody hens will depend on the breed. Generally the egg laying breeds like the Leghorn and
other Mediterranean breed bred for egg laying are more skittish and will not brood. However
the heavier breeds that are dual purpose birds are more inclined to breed and be good moth-
ers. Examples of good brooders are the Silkie in the bantam class and New Hampshire in
standard breeds.
Cost: It will cost $0 to hatch and raise chicks naturally as the mother hen will hatch the eggs
herself and look after the chicks.
Homemade Incubator:
You will need a 2 ft by 2ft square box and you will make a circular hole in the top. In this
hole you will insert your heat lamp. A cup of water should be placed in the box for humidity.
Fertilized eggs will then be placed under the heat lamp. The eggs will need to be turned x2
or x3 per day. The humidity should be kept at 60 degrees to 65 degrees and the temperature
should be about 99 degrees. After the first 18 days leave the eggs alone and be sure that the
eggs are not disturbed.
Cost:
The box can be an old cooler and if it is just lying around will cost you nothing.
The heat lamp kit should cost around $6.00
A thermometer which tells you how warm it is in the incubator would cost around $1.00
A piece of glass to fit on the roof or lid of the thermos, this will be under a dollar.
You may want to have something to measure humidity, which will not cost more than $5.00
The whole project could be done below $20.00
If you get the eggs from your own chickens then it will be of no additional cost.
Industrial Incubator or Artificial Incubator:
An industrial or artificial incubator will take quite a number of eggs. It will have automatic
temperature and humidity gages so that you do not have to worry about this. Observation
