Recent content by crysmom

I'm going to build one just like nevadaron's I'm going to make each 4x4 end removable for cleaning with two opening doors on the back for easy access and the nest box on the front to keep it out of the elements

I would lift that up on a frame and construct the run around it, would be a nice way to give the chickens a covered area in the run and make it more accessible to you to clean/gather eggs etc.

I would suggest the brinsea eco I have one and had a 12/14 hatch the thermometer it came with was spot on and the incubator held a solid temeprature really great hatch

oh that is so sad! Honestly unless you are prepared for the likelyhood in the future of providing seperate housing for this little girl as she grows up I would have to say put her down. Even if she recovers from her injuries she will probably be picked on by the other birds and will be unable...

I have had a hawk eat 2 of my chanteclers winter of 08 they were full size large birds, the hawk couldn't fly away with them so ate them right there and flew away then came back the next day for another snack. We have not had a hawk casualty since putting netting over the run

I use a 2x4 with the 4 inch side up (but its really 3.5) I also had an assortment of birch branches up which the birds used but i had to take them down due to coop reconfiguration but they were using the 2x4 anyway

okay i'll relax i'm using the egg cartons one chick was stuck upside down for 20 minutes but was able to right itself i was just worried because I"ll be unable to supervise the incubator tonight for 9 hours while I work and i'm sure the bulk of the chicks will hatch then

Quote: good point

do you leave the wire dividers in when you hatch? the wire dividers were holding my eggs upright during incubation (large end up) when it came down to lockdown I was advised by the breeder that the eggs should hatch in the position they were incubated in so it was suggested by many to use cut...

I'm hatching polish bantams right now in the brinsea eco, two have hatched and there is so little room between the eggs and the "roof" grate that they can't even stand up. This is my first time using this incubator, I have incubated before in a hovabator and obviously there is lots of headroom...

i'd say its the weather make sure they have enough water and some shade. Do they roam around your yard/acreage? because when I notice less eggs its normally because they have started to lay under the bush

i would eat them sometimes when my birds have been out free ranging for a few days i'll notice a drop in eggs but sure enough a day or two later i'll come across a nest full of eggs (2 or 3 ) hiding under a bush I just pull the eggs out and float them in water if they lie on the bottom they...

looks like a starling we had some fall out of the nest in my backyard not too long ago

technically no, I don't use medicated feed at all, neither do I vaccinate for coccidiosis. Most people I know near where I live don't use medicated feed. Quote:

Quote: I read that article too, not sure I could handle the smell though