Articles by BantyChooks
Why Roosters? Where Should I Start?
Roosters are a vital part of a well-rounded flock. They provide a watchful eye against predators, genes for the next generation, and keep social stability in a group. It is my opinion that a flock without a rooster is missing out on a good deal of their...
What is PTFE? How can it harm my chickens?
Polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE is often known by the brand name Teflon™. It is a synthetic polymer often used as a non-stick coating for cookware or shatter-resistant heat lamps. Though intended for use in the food industry, poultry owners may...
After becoming dissatisfied with my Little Giant's propensity to temperature swings, I went on the market for a new incubator. I wanted something of a medium size that was cheap and reliable. Unfortunately, I discovered that finding all three of those qualities in the average commercial...
How to Candle Eggs
There are two different ways to effectively candle eggs. One pertains to shipped eggs with air cell damage and the other to non-shipped eggs.
Shipped Eggs:
Always keep the eggs air cell end up. It's best to leave them in an egg carton if you can. Put the light source on the...
In early 2017, I decided to begin a rebuild of the BinBator and use a cooler for the body. If anyone else wants to try using a bin as I did in the last article in this series, I highly recommend screwing a piece of wood on the back to screw the thermostat onto rather than putting it over the...
Once again, I am upgrading my incubator. I ran into an issue with the small table-top cooler that was probably caused at least partially by my inability to quit tinkering. Hatch rates started falling and I noticed that embryo development was uneven. Moving thermometers around revealed large hot...