Our story.
Growing up, I was always surrounded by animals, crops, and farming. My grandfather, who humorously called himself a "gentleman farmer" despite not always living up to the title, had a large garden, cows for milk and pleasure, and chickens roaming for eggs. He even had tractors just for fun.
At our house, we had a similar setup. We maintained a large garden, kept chickens (when they weren't taken by neighbors' dogs or coyotes), and hatched eggs in an old Styrofoam incubator each spring. We also had horses to ride, a large barn, and occasionally housed geese or pigs.
I've always aspired to be a gentleman farmer, but my work often required heavy travel, making it difficult to maintain such a lifestyle. However, the COVID-19 pandemic changed that. With travel restrictions in place, our family garden expanded, and we began canning and making sourdough. My wife, whom I lovingly call "the farmer's wife," encouraged me to finally get chickens.
As many chicken owners experience, we quickly fell victim to "chicken math”. We started with nine chickens, but soon realized we needed more to get through the winter and to share with family and friends. We began hatching eggs in a RCOM 20 incubator, acquiring "barnyard mix" hatching eggs from Craigslist. Watching the chicks hatch became a favorite pastime, leading us to upgrade to a Brinsea 56 incubator.
Now, we often have three Brinsea 56 incubators running, along with the RCOM 20 for smaller batches, and a 100+ egg incubator for peak demand. The Brinsea incubators are still our incubator of choice.
Here’s a look at our setup, including an unboxing and a full review of the Brinsea EX 56 Connect:
Despite my knowledge of chickens, I knew little about the regulations for selling them and hatching eggs. With the help of friendly folks on the internet, we created an LLC, joined NPIP, and ensured we were operating legally.
In the early days, friends and family would ask about the chickens, so I started a YouTube channel to share updates. To my surprise, the channel has grown to over 4,000 subscribers. I enjoy sharing my experiences and connecting with others who are interested in chickens.
Our small, family-run practice is open and honest. We are passionate about what we do and strive to do what is best for our animals and your family.
As many chicken owners experience, we quickly fell victim to "chicken math”. We started with nine chickens, but soon realized we needed more to get through the winter and to share with family and friends. We began hatching eggs in a RCOM 20 incubator, acquiring "barnyard mix" hatching eggs from Craigslist. Watching the chicks hatch became a favorite pastime, leading us to upgrade to a Brinsea 56 incubator.
Now, we often have three Brinsea 56 incubators running, along with the RCOM 20 for smaller batches, and a 100+ egg incubator for peak demand. The Brinsea incubators are still our incubator of choice.
Here’s a look at our setup, including an unboxing and a full review of the Brinsea EX 56 Connect: