Improving chicken hatch rates with broody hens and incubators (part 1)

To maximise the brood size that our broody hens raise, we use incubators, candlers and occasionally brooders to maximise hatch rates, check viability and help chicks where the broody cant. This year we are using a Brinsea Ovation 28EX loaned to us by Brinsea along with an Ovaview candler and EcoGlow brooder that we get to keep!
Brinsea Ovation Incubators (also candlers and brood plates)
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Hatching & Brooding Your Own Chicks Book
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We breed Buff Orpington chickens and have kept them for a number of years.
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[@TheVillageFairy]

With the price of eggs sky rocketing, this is the video we needed lol

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It certainly makes sense for us!

[@My2up2downCastle]

I've been incubating eggs for 45+ years.....i've had 5 incubators in that time...... my favourite was a Suro King, until the humidity pump broke! You can't buy a replacement! and trying to keep the correct humidity without it is just a no go..... 2nd favourite was my old manual turn Brinsea Hatchmaker, which was my 1st unit that I ever bought. I blew it up! For no reason whatsoever i thought i'd change the heating element....if it ain't broke, don't fix it! My 3rd favourite (still have it in one piece, and it works) is a Covatutto 24 egg semi automatic..... this works well if you have the right overall room temperature, otherwise failure happens far too frequently. My least favourite was a Brinsea Octagon 10.....i never managed to hatch a live chick with it the whole time i had it. I also have an old polystyrene 64 egg one which i've never used as it's buried deep in my ex's loft somewhere.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We find Brinsea to be the most consistently reliable - and they are fantastic at supplying spares even for models no longer made. That's the advantage of buying UK made!

[@Kiri_48]

So well done thank you sir.. hadn't thought through some of those points raised! Much appreciated from Zimbabwe

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Andrew.Croft.]

Thanks again for another informative video, can see a lot more chickenkeepers with the price of food going the way it is as someone has already commented, chicken knowledge is always welcome here.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Ours do go a long way to reducing our food bill!

[@eaglefarm3712]

Another great video! I’m looking forward part two. My first time broody should be hatching her chicks next week Thursday and in the mean time I’m learning so much from your videos

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Lots of luck with your broody!

[@raincoast9010]

Great video and Marshmallow is a wonderful name for a chicken.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks -last year's pullets got sweet names - jelly bean, taffy and liquorice too 🙂

[@bgtrev]

Interesting seeing how you utilize both options, similar here but using an incubator from start to finish for all the bought in broiler eggs. These eggs are delivered via courier and I have to say it is very rare to fall below a 97% hatch rate, current batch was 100%, 49 in, 49 out! Have to agree regarding the Chinese incubators, we have one, but trying to keep the temperature and humidity stable is virtually impossible despite trying it in various locations.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Sounds like you have a great courier there Trev!

[@bgtrev]

@@EnglishCountryLife No postal system exists where we are located so we rely on them, reliable next day delivery from anywhere in the country and all cash on delivery, so any issues you just refuse the item and sender incurs costs. Good system.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@bgtrev Sounds a great idea!

[@tammyohlsson7966]

Your wisdom is appreciated. My hen just hatched my first two chicks. So excited and scared. So far so good. Blessings!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Wonderful - enjoy it!

[@Fermerswife]

Really informative video thank you. My son got a cheap incubator for Christmas I have to say we’ve had great success with it albeit it’s more faff. 1st time using a broody chicks due out today and I see there are two out! So exciting!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Fantastic news! I'm glad you had better luck than our cheap incubator - it was truly awful with temperature fluctuations & inadequate turning. Its useful as a hatching chamber occasionally when we just ramp the humidity right up but an awful incubator 😔. Good luck with the hatch!

[@Fermerswife]

@@EnglishCountryLife 5 out of 6 Successfully hatched but I agree if I was to buy an incubator myself I’d definitely go with a brinsea. Good luck for the rest of your hatches!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@Fermerswife Excellent result!

[@francineclave2207]

I learn sooooo much from your channel! Thank you for doing these ❤️🐣❤️🐣❤️

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You are very welcome Francine - part 2 next week!

[@shelleyknowles9773]

I learned a lot . Thank you.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You are welcome!

[@AnaAndreaXoxo]

What do you keep the humidity in the beginning? Mine is at 38% without any water added and I haven't added the eggs yet. I've been binge watching all your videos 🥰

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Start with 50% but more the last couple of days to stop the membrane sticking during hatch

[@marissamills]

I enjoyed and looking forward to part 2! I currently have 4 month old Buffs that I plan to use as my dual purpose breeding chickens ad your videos help so much with learning how to do things and what to expect. In your experience do you find the buffs don't forage/ eat as much or scratch quite as much as other breeds? We also have Golden Comets that are about 7 months old now and they till the yard up always active and scratching and begging for more food. Our Buffs like to kind of hang out and snuggle together a lot? I'm hoping once they mature and begin laying they will become more friendly and active.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We find that the Buffs do scratch but not as much as other breeds. Our Buffs do run up to us - but it's mainly due to regular treats of whole wheat at night and hot mash in the morning. They will leap inyo Fiona's lap for treats 🙂. Hand feeding & time & you should have lap chickens 😁

[@marissamills]

@@EnglishCountryLife I was not expecting such a quick reply, thank you!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@marissamills Always a pleasure to chat with another Orpington wrangler 🙂

[@Louise-xr5ok]

Hi could I ask how often apple cider vinegar is added to chickens water ? Also do add it to chicks water ? Thank you

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi, although we make cider vinegar we don't routinely add it to the chickens water. We do use it if there are any signs of intestinal health issues but only in plastic drinkers as its dangerous to put acid in metal.

[@robinwyn3089]

Hi, great informative video. What temperature and humidity do you set your Brinsea at?….or is that in part 2?! Thanks for the content 🐣

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Robin, it does depend upon species etc ( hence the book) but I use autoturn every 45 minutes, 37.5C and 50% humidity for days 1 to 19, then turn off autoturn and increase humidity to 70% for hatch. Hugh

[@johnniepassmore5341]

Absolutely luv your channel and follow you on Instagram. Would be great if u do a incubator video. Thank you

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Johnnie, really happy to do that - what do you want to see in an incubator video? The settings? How to choose an incubator?

[@johnniepassmore5341]

@@EnglishCountryLifehello😁 yeah basically as I have no idea and really would like to know. Also how do u store fertile eggs and how long can't u keep them..

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@johnniepassmore5341 I'll add it to the list!

[@johnniepassmore5341]

@@EnglishCountryLife thank u very much your way of life has inspired me to live like it. Bless u👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@johnniepassmore5341 Its a a simple life, with hard work, but better than meetings & mission statements!

[@vanessaevans3401]

I have a 10 year old hen , I have just found her in the nesting box and she looks like she is trying to lay an egg , any ideas ? She is very dear to me 😔

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Its possible that she is laying - elderly hens can still lay very infrequently. She may also be going broody - we had one that age who brooded every year

[@vanessaevans3401]

@@EnglishCountryLife I gave her a bath,I thought she was gonna die, I gave her a gentle blow dry and out popped the egg . Big relief 😮‍💨

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@vanessaevans3401 We had one sho only laid every couple of months 🙂