A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[OneMountainAcres]

I managed to squeeze the last 9 eggs in to the hatcher. It's not ideal but they're safer in there. I'll be breaking all kinds of lockdown rules tomorrow, removing chicks and poults throughout the hatch to make room.

 

[JRNash]

Aurora, sorry to hear that. I've had it happen too.

 

[Finnie]

That should be ok if you can keep your humidity up.

24 hours to go on Ralphie's Eggs, and I'm still waiting for a pip.

 

[memphis]

I'd be bummed too Aurora.

Love the pic of those bug eyed babies riding on their mom's back. Too cute!

 

[dheltzel]

I'm feeling a little discouraged tonight. I opened the cabinet to gather up whatever poults have hatched and pulled out 7 poults but found 8 eggs. My hatching tray in the bottom is just one of the turner trays so this isn't exactly perfect fitting in there. One of the little poults hatched but got caught in the mechanics and strangled I know that things happen but I feel terrible. All that time developing in to a beautiful, healthy baby and successfully hatching to be strangled to death just after. I will be investing in an actual hatching tray for the cabinet for those special occasions when I DO have to use it to hatch. There are still 10 eggs left down there. I will check it one more time before bed and try to cram the last of the eggs in to the hatcher so I don't worry about the babies the rest of the night. Sorry for my rant but I needed to vent a minute.

The hatching trays for all the cabinet incubators are not well designed. They really don't expect you to use them much. You could custom make a much better one from hardware cloth. You have to remember how the turner goes down and make sure the outer walls don't interfere with that, otherwise it can be quite a bit taller than the ones they sell for it. I don't like the wire tops, they are far too short to allow for reasonable hatching of anything larger than a bantam. Remember the 'Q' in GQF is for quail. It works great for those.

As for hatchers, the best ones are homemade coolerbators. That is the only design that does not dump all the warm humid air every time you open it. I open the top and remove chicks frequently in mine and the humidity stays high.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

The hatching trays for all the cabinet incubators are not well designed. They really don't expect you to use them much. You could custom make a much better one from hardware cloth. You have to remember how the turner goes down and make sure the outer walls don't interfere with that, otherwise it can be quite a bit taller than the ones they sell for it. I don't like the wire tops, they are far too short to allow for reasonable hatching of anything larger than a bantam. Remember the 'Q' in GQF is for quail. It works great for those.

As for hatchers, the best ones are homemade coolerbators. That is the only design that does not dump all the warm humid air every time you open it. I open the top and remove chicks frequently in mine and the humidity stays high.

Maybe I need a coolerbator hatcher then (though those GQF cabinet hatchers are awesome). I love my little hova bator but it's getting too small now to even act as a hatcher for some of my hatches.

 

[MontainBourbons]

Maybe I need a coolerbator hatcher then (though those GQF cabinet hatchers are awesome). I love my little hova bator but it's getting too small now to even act as a hatcher for some of my hatches.

You could always get an older GQF hatcher. I got a steal on one for $100, it works perfectly fine for me.

 

[duluthralphie]

You could always get an older GQF hatcher. I got a steal on one for $100, it works perfectly fine for me.

Or find an non-working QGF and make it a hatcher, would be easy to do.

 

[memphis]

Ugg...its hot here. Been trimming bushes & needed a break. My whole flock is under a holly, in the shade, taking dust baths. Bunch of bums!!

 

[R2elk]

Ugg...its hot here. Been trimming bushes & needed a break. My whole flock is under a holly, in the shade, taking dust baths. Bunch of bums!!

See things turn around. It is soaking wet and white out here. Started raining last night and is still snowing now. The Sweetgrass hen has been on her nest since I let her out this morning and she is absolutely drenched.

I have been out planting trees in the snow and am now trying to get some warmth back into my body.