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

[msladyhawke]

So... I have built a lot of things in my life. Houses, barns, cars, furniture, tools, what have you, but tonight I observed (through candling) a cluster of veins developing inside an egg, and I have to say, I am more proud of my homemade incubator than anything else I have ever constructed. LOL what is wrong with me?

Because this homemade thing you built produces adorable life. Cute tiny little chicks! Nothing like watching them hatch.

 

[Gardeningmama]

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[Blarneyeggs]

[COLOR=0000FF]You're so creative...you should think of a way to tell her. DS was like, oh Mom, can we keep em? Let's ask Her if we can keep em.... I haven't even told them the breed yet...I should really be a tease and remind them what breed these eggs are![/COLOR]

 

LOL, I was just going to have you tell her on Christmas day. DS wanted to keep them and he didn't even know the breed? Silly boy.

I know, right? He is a true chicken addict.

Anyone else sick to death of the frozen waterers? DH says more snow on the way here too. Arrrrgh! I noticed this morning how much further South in the sky the sun is coming up, can't wait for the winter solstice, and more light.

 

[Myfourladies]

Lucky you! Are you going to attempt to hatch them?? Do itttt

Of course I am going to try them!!

I have been searching for green egg layers! I couldn't believe I hadn't thought about it before. They will have to wait until February thou.... no more winter chicks for now.

 

[SoManyHats]

I know, right? He is a true chicken addict.

Anyone else sick to death of the frozen waterers? DH says more snow on the way here too. Arrrrgh! I noticed this morning how much further South in the sky the sun is coming up, can't wait for the winter solstice, and more light.

We have a 5 gal bucket with nipples for their water, and DH wrapped pipe heating cable around it and ran an extension cord to it. Works great- no frozen water since!

 

[JLaw]

I know, right? He is a true chicken addict.

Anyone else sick to death of the frozen waterers? DH says more snow on the way here too. Arrrrgh! I noticed this morning how much further South in the sky the sun is coming up, can't wait for the winter solstice, and more light.

I don't have frozen water then again I used a heated dog bowl. like 20 dollars at tsc or walmart.

 

[Gardeningmama]

Quote: I know, right? He is a true chicken addict.

Anyone else sick to death of the frozen waterers? DH says more snow on the way here too. Arrrrgh! I noticed this morning how much further South in the sky the sun is coming up, can't wait for the winter solstice, and more light.

Oh girl, I am. Getting ready to go out now and dreading it! A few days ago, I lost it so bad I was kicking waterers and cussing up a storm. I'm not normally like that by the way, lol! I've had it though...

 

[Myfourladies]

I know, right? He is a true chicken addict.

Anyone else sick to death of the frozen waterers? DH says more snow on the way here too. Arrrrgh! I noticed this morning how much further South in the sky the sun is coming up, can't wait for the winter solstice, and more light.

I can't wait till solstice either!! It has been a cold rough fall so far.

I have a heated poultry water fountain from Tractor farm supply, it works wonders if I can keep the breaker from throwing in the plug in. I did have a little ice, with free water one morning when the wind chill was below 0, but if it had been inside the coop it wouldn't have been an issue.

 

[mspj]

I created my watering system late summer to avoid frozen water. I started with a cooler, run 3/4" pvc pipe to 1" pvc with nipples back to 3/4" back to the cooler. Added a pond pump to circulate the water and a pond heater to prevent freezing! Works great, so far no problems with freezing.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Oh girl, I am. Getting ready to go out now and dreading it! A few days ago, I lost it so bad I was kicking waterers and cussing up a storm. I'm not normally like that by the way, lol! I've had it though...

I've gotten in the habit of collecting all the waterers and fermented feed troughs as I lock everyone up. I bring them all into the basement and fill them down there in the morning. No more fighting frozen containers. Depending on the temp, I may have to do that once or twice more each day. It's less than 20 minutes each time with 7 groups.
Everyone has a bulk dry feeder in the coop. The fermented feed is a supplement and it makes the feed go much farther.
Over the last three years or so, I've put automatic waterers in all the buildings. I disabled all of them when the temp stayed much below freezing.
For next year, I plan on changing the piping so there will be a loop that returns the water to the barrels, put a thermostatically controlled heater in the barrels and an inline pump to keep the thawed water cycling. I'm hoping it works. The current method adds at least 90 minutes a day to my chores in freezing weather.

I can't wait till solstice either!! It has been a cold rough fall so far.

I have a heated poultry water fountain from Tractor farm supply, it works wonders if I can keep the breaker from throwing in the plug in. I did have a little ice, with free water one morning when the wind chill was below 0, but if it had been inside the coop it wouldn't have been an issue.

When I used heated waterers and bird bath heaters while also having chicks in the brooder house it tripped the 20 amp breaker. I was glad I checked the chicks often since their power went off. I caught it before they got too chilled. I might try to add another 30 amp circuit when I run more electric if there's room in the conduit.

The solstice will be nice psychologically just knowing the days are getting longer even though the next 2 months will be the coldest.