5th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2014 Hatch-A-Long

[Scottyhorse]

Yes, your lightbulb (or whatever your heatsource will be) is hooked up through the thermostat, so that it can turn them on and off.  Lots of people use the water heater thermostats for incubators, but I'm the last person to advise you on hooking it up.     I tried one of those first and I guess I must have broken it or something because I never could make it work.

Great, thanks. I will ask someone on here how they hooked theirs up.

I have read that the thermostat sensor need to be fairly close to the heat source or the temperature will vary too much.

Good Luck!

Thanks!

 

[Wunjo]

Well I only got 4 eggs today... I usually get 11. I keep a heat lamp on them at night which is a normal light color, not red. Not really sure why they didn't lay toady. Weather has been in the 50's this week with the low being not under 40. Food has been the same. Fodder and layer. The water was empty yesterday but hadn't been empty long. Any ideas as to why they didn't lay? If they keep that up there is no way I will be able to fill two incubators...

 

[ronott1]

Well I only got 4 eggs today... I usually get 11. I keep a heat lamp on them at night which is a normal light color, not red. Not really sure why they didn't lay toady. Weather has been in the 50's this week with the low being not under 40. Food has been the same. Fodder and layer. The water was empty yesterday but hadn't been empty long. Any ideas as to why they didn't lay? If they keep that up there is no way I will be able to fill two incubators...

They will do that sometimes. Something may have spooked them last night.

 

[Gardeningmama]

Well I only got 4 eggs today... I usually get 11. I keep a heat lamp on them at night which is a normal light color, not red. Not really sure why they didn't lay toady. Weather has been in the 50's this week with the low being not under 40. Food has been the same. Fodder and layer. The water was empty yesterday but hadn't been empty long. Any ideas as to why they didn't lay? If they keep that up there is no way I will be able to fill two incubators...

I'm down to 1 out of 15 hens laying.

3 are molting, 1 is broody, and the rest are just doing it because of how little daylight there is. I'm told their production should pick up again by late Feb. Funny to have soo many chickens, and I'll be buying eggs to eat by New Years, lol!

 

[Blarneyeggs]

I'm planning on doing this again this year, but am hoping to be getting more eggs by then.  Very little happening right now in the egg department.  Maybe if I get those Christmas lights up in the coop it might get them in the spirit of things!

Yes, I believe a little 'mood' lighting is in order for my chooks as well...

 

[fosterson]

I found when I put a regular heat lamp in for longer than bout 15 hours a day, my laying went to zero. Put in a red lamp at night and the laying went back up to almost normal. I think having continuous lighting on all night throws their body clocks off and they stop laying regularly. YMMV.

 

[Aphrael]

I found when I put a regular heat lamp in for longer than bout 15 hours a day, my laying went to zero. Put in a red lamp at night and the laying went back up to almost normal. I think having continuous lighting on all night throws their body clocks off and they stop laying regularly. YMMV.

Hmmm. That is very good to know.

 

[Kalalyn21]

I put a red light on 1-2 hours before sun rise and 1-2 hours after sunset and my laying has stayed consistent. Even got down to 2 degrees last night and still got eggs today.

 

[ShayBaby]

I promised DH no more eggs til spring, but I want both Christmas and New Year babies! A little sweet talking is in order!

I'll hopefully be joining.

 

[SoManyHats]

Looks like I will have everything I need besides the thermometer, humidity guage, and the thermostat. Would a thermostat like this work? How does it work? Do you hook it up to the light bulb or something? 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-THE...440?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f187a56c8

I made my incubator with one of those. Make sure you place I correctly (close to bulb) and drill the extra holes. Here's mine: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/831687/pink-zebra-incubator-miss-prissy-style-lots-of-pics