I have three nest boxes for thirteen hens as well, mine are all laying and took a while before they started to use the second nest but they wont use three, my new coop will have large nest boxes about 2 1/2 feet wide by 1 1/2 feet deep, they will probably go back to useing one nest again then...
Oh ok so maybe there was something in there, they have never done it before that I know of my first thought was a predator but they didn't stop for a while after I left. There are venomous snakes here they dont worry the full size chickens though they may spook them, if it happens again i'll be...
I woke this morning at 5 am still dark, to a coop full of 13 hens and a rooster all very loudly singing the egg song, naturally I thought a predator was at them with all the noise before daylight, but when I went to investigate they were all happy on the roosts the song getting louder, then I...
iamcuriositycat , If you have a fair bit of air inside your incubator closing the vent for a while shouldn't hurt, at least till humidity rises a bit then open it again.
I have five out now will post pick later.
I also have trouble with humidity here, this time of year it's really dry here...
Boy oh boy i'm exhausted, I got three hatched and three zipping day 21 just ended at 6pm for me, perfect timing I'm hoping for 6 from 6, only set 11 of my own eggs, 5 not fertile . I been up and down to these chicks for last two days frettin. Rest later tonight. ahhhhhh. I hope. My goat is...
Ive got 6 Mixed breed in my bator, day 20 no pips yet i'm getting a bit edgy, they were all moving with good air sacks on day 18 so here's hoping.
PS I thought this thread needed a pic so here's some I hatched out last time .
Nice Coop, Well done, are they tyres for nests ? Good idea. Wouldn't those five nests be enough for 30 chickens ? Did I hear you mention photo's in the video ? I wana see more. I'm building my own for 20 at the moment.
Here's a pic of my new coop under constuction I hope to leave it as open as it is now, but I may cover the open side for a meter or so to darken the nest area in the mornings.
G'day EVILGOD, I'm near Rockhampton, Central Queensland and 270 meters above sea level, quite windy, gets down around 5 or 6 degree's C in winter, my current coop is completely open from roost level up to the roof its a little cold in winter but good in summer, so my new coop will be two walls...
I was surprised about a month or so ago by one of my older Australorp hens with the mega-egg in the first picture, it weighed 115 grams about 4 ounce's. Then today my eye's nearly crossed when I tried to focus on the teeny tiny egg in the second picture it weighs 17 grams or .599 of an ounce...
The trick I use with my pullets, is to get them close with some yummy mixed grain, then at the right moment swoop down and pick up the paticular bird you want with a hand over each wing holding them tight to it's body so it can't flap then I kinda hold the bird against against my front with one...